Chapter 18 - THE WOMAN ON THE WITNESS STAND
Celeste’s trial began seven months later.
The courthouse steps were crowded before sunrise.
Some people still believed she had been targeted by her billionaire husband.
Others viewed her as the symbol of privilege without consequence.
Celeste entered wearing a simple navy dress.
Her jewelry was gone.
Her hair was tied back.
She looked smaller than she had inside the mansion.
Yet when she saw Elena, the old contempt returned.
Elena was the prosecution’s first major witness.
Harold Price no longer represented Celeste.
Her new attorney tried to present Elena as an opportunist.
“You received a powerful position after these events.”
“I was appointed director of a restitution-funded advocacy center.”
“You also received financial security.”
“I receive a salary for my work.”
“From assets once controlled by Mrs. Vale.”
“From money taken from families like mine.”
The attorney changed direction.
“You cared for Sophie Vale for almost two years.”
“Yes.”
“You became emotionally attached.”
“Yes.”
“You resented Mrs. Vale’s role as Sophie’s stepmother.”
“No.”
“You wanted her removed.”
“I wanted her to stop frightening a child.”
The courtroom became quiet.
The attorney approached the jury.
“Did you have romantic feelings for Adrian Vale?”
Celeste watched closely.
Adrian sat behind the prosecution table.
Elena answered without looking at him.
“Not while I worked in his home.”
The attorney smiled.
“But now?”
The prosecutor objected.
The judge sustained it.
The question remained in the room.
Celeste leaned toward her attorney and whispered.
Elena could not hear the words.
She saw the smile.
The defense then introduced a private text message.
It had been sent from Elena’s phone to Rosa three weeks before the Rolex incident.
Sometimes I wish Celeste would disappear.
Elena stared at the screen.
She remembered the message.
Celeste had made Sophie cry after a charity dinner.
Elena had been angry.
The defense argued that the text proved motive.
Then Adrian testified.
He described the security system.
He described the backup footage.
He admitted he had ignored warning signs.
Celeste’s attorney asked whether Adrian had become romantically involved with Elena.
“No.”
“Have you kissed her?”
Adrian looked toward Elena.
“No.”
“Have you wanted to?”
The prosecutor objected.
The judge instructed the jury to ignore the question.
Celeste smiled again.
She believed any emotional connection between them would poison the case.
Then Sophie’s recorded forensic interview was played.
The child described Celeste planting the watch.
She described Damien entering the house.
She described Celeste telling her that Elena would be fired if she spoke.
Sophie’s voice remained calm until the interviewer asked how Celeste made her feel.
“Like I was a box with money inside.”
Celeste’s smile vanished.
The prosecution presented the garage confession.
They presented the foundation payments.
They presented the threat call.
Finally, Julian entered the courtroom in prison clothing.
Celeste turned toward him.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
Julian swore to tell the truth.
Then he revealed the final part of their plan.
Celeste had not intended merely to remove Adrian from Sophie’s trust.
Once she controlled the shares, she planned to place Sophie in a private residential facility in Switzerland.
The child would have been declared emotionally unstable.
Celeste intended to keep her isolated until the trust transfer became permanent.
Adrian’s hands closed into fists.
Elena reached across the bench and placed her hand over his.
He looked at her.
She did not release him.
Celeste saw the gesture.
Her face filled with rage.
She stood before the judge could stop her.
“She was supposed to be grateful,” Celeste shouted.
“I paid her mother’s bills.”
“I gave her everything.”
Elena looked directly at her.
“You paid for my silence.”
Celeste pointed toward her.
“And you still took my husband.”
Adrian rose slowly.
“No.”
May you like
His voice carried through the courtroom.
“You lost me the moment you decided my daughter was property.”
