Chapter 8 - CELESTE’S FIRST LIE
Mara felt the room spin.
“You were there?”
Celeste looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
Celeste looked uncomfortable.
“Because I was young.”
“That’s not an answer.”
Celeste walked closer.
“You don’t understand what happened.”
Mara laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
She pointed at the photograph.
“My entire life is a mystery because people decided I couldn’t handle the truth.”
Julian watched silently.
He wanted answers too.
Celeste sat down.
For the first time, she looked less like a powerful woman.
She looked afraid.
“Your mother came to me.”
Mara froze.
“Why?”
“She needed help.”
“With what?”
Celeste swallowed.
“She knew someone was watching her.”
Julian stepped forward.
“Who?”
Celeste looked at him.
“Your father.”
The room went silent.
Julian’s face hardened.
“You’re accusing my father?”
“I’m telling you what I saw.”
“Then why hide it?”
Celeste looked at Mara.
“Because I was scared.”
Mara shook her head.
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“You were protecting yourself.”
Celeste didn’t deny it.
And that hurt more.
Because Mara realized something.
Celeste wasn’t innocent.
But maybe she wasn’t the only villain.
Julian walked toward the safe in his office.
He removed an old file.
“I found this after my father died.”
Mara looked inside.
There were letters.
Dozens of them.
All from Anna.
Her mother.
Julian handed one to Mara.
She opened it.
The handwriting was familiar.
Her mother’s handwriting.
The letter was short.
If anything happens to me, find the girl with the silver locket. She will know the truth.
Mara looked up.
“The girl?”
Julian nodded.
“You.”
A cold feeling moved through her.
Her mother knew.
She knew Mara would eventually find the truth.
Suddenly, the mansion alarm started ringing.
Everyone turned.
A security officer rushed inside.
“Mr. Vale!”
“What happened?”
The officer looked terrified.
“Someone broke into the archive room.”
Julian’s expression changed.
“What was taken?”
The officer hesitated.
Then answered:
“The original evidence file about Anna Ellison.”
Mara felt her heart sink.
May you like
Someone wasn’t trying to hide the past anymore.
Someone was trying to destroy it.
