Chapter 11 - THE DEAL CELESTE WANTED
Celeste offered to testify against Daniel.
In return, she wanted immunity from conspiracy charges.
Detective Cole refused to promise anything.
“You slapped a child.”
“That was not part of the plan.”
Nora stared at her.
“You practiced the collision.”
“I was supposed to stain the dress.”
“You told Lucy where to stand.”
“Yes.”
“You threatened her.”
“I did not intend to knock out her tooth.”
Celeste’s voice broke.
“I lost control.”
Nora leaned forward.
“That is what you planned to accuse me of doing.”
Celeste looked away.
The phone contained enough evidence to prove Daniel directed the public setup.
It also proved Celeste altered corporate records and paid Dr. Vale.
Her cooperation might reduce her sentence.
It would not erase it.
Celeste provided one final recording.
Daniel spoke to Harrison Arden inside a restaurant.
“After Nora is removed, the trust may challenge my shares.”
Harrison answered,
“Then force her to sign the settlement before Charles reaches her.”
“How?”
“Threaten custody.”
Daniel became quiet.
Then he said,
“She will sign anything to keep Lucy.”
Nora closed her eyes.
Daniel knew her love for their daughter.
He had not treated that love as something sacred.
He treated it as leverage.
Celeste looked toward her.
“I thought he would marry me.”
“Did he say he would?”
“He said we would announce the engagement after the merger.”
“Did you ever see a ring?”
“No.”
Nora almost felt pity.
Then she remembered Lucy’s tooth in the evidence bag.
Pity could exist without removing consequences.
Celeste signed a formal statement.
Before police escorted her away, she asked Nora one question.
“Did Daniel ever love you?”
Nora considered six years of marriage.
The early mornings.
The birth of Lucy.
The first company office.
The moments that had once felt real.
“Yes.”
“I think he did.”
“What happened?”
“He began believing love meant I would survive anything he did.”
May you like
Celeste lowered her eyes.
That answer frightened her more than hatred would have.
