Chapter 3 - THE MESSAGE
Damian read it twice.
His blood turned to ice.
Celeste reached for the phone.
He pulled it away.
“Who sent this?”
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t insult me.”
“I said I don’t know.”
The contact had no name.
Only a number.
Damian tapped the message.
Celeste grabbed his wrist.
“Stop.”
That was enough.
Damian looked at her hand.
Then at her face.
“You know exactly who sent this.”
She let go.
“Damian, listen to me.”
“No. You listen.”
His voice was low enough that only the people closest could hear.
“You have one chance to tell me why somebody just texted you that my wife was supposed to be dead.”
Celeste’s eyes filled with tears.
Perfect tears.
Damian had once found them convincing.
Not tonight.
“I’m scared,” she whispered.
“So am I.”
“Someone is trying to destroy us.”
“There is no us right now.”
That landed.
Her mouth tightened.
Behind him, Anna whispered, “Damian.”
He froze.
She looked startled by the name leaving her mouth.
“So you remember me?”
“No.”
“But you knew my name before anyone said it.”
“I heard people talking.”
“No, you didn’t.”
She backed away.
Oliver watched both adults, scared and silent now.
Damian softened his voice.
“Give him to the nanny.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Anna looked down at Oliver.
“Because every part of me is screaming not to let him go.”
Her words cut deeper than Damian expected.
Oliver touched her cheek.
“Mommy cries when she sings.”
Anna went still.
Damian’s throat tightened.
“What did you say?”
Oliver looked at him.
“The moon song.”
Eliza used to sing a stupid little bedtime song she had made up herself.
Nobody else knew it.
Damian crouched beside his son.
“Buddy, what moon song?”
Oliver looked at Anna.
“Sing it.”
She shook her head.
“I don’t know any song.”
“Please.”
Oliver’s bottom lip trembled.
Anna closed her eyes.
For a few seconds, nothing happened.
Then she hummed.
Three notes.
Damian nearly fell backward.
Eliza’s song.
Anna stopped abruptly.
“I don’t know why I know that.”
Damian looked at her.
She covered her mouth.
“I don’t know why.”
Celeste whispered, “This is a trick.”
Damian stood.
“DNA test.”
Anna stared at him.
“What?”
“Tonight.”
“You think I planned this?”
“I think someone planned something.”
He looked at Celeste.
“And I’m done guessing.”
His physician was called.
A private lab technician was ordered to the mansion.
The guests were slowly dismissed after security copied the details of everyone who had been near the east wing.
Celeste stayed.
She insisted.
Damian didn’t trust that either.
Two hours later, Anna sat in the library with Oliver asleep against her shoulder.
Damian stood by the fireplace.
Neither spoke.
Finally, she looked at him.
“What was she like?”
He didn’t pretend not to understand.
“Eliza?”
Anna nodded.
Damian stared at the fire.
“Stubborn.”
A tiny smile touched her lips.
“Was she kind?”
“Yes.”
“Were you happy?”
He looked at her.
“Sometimes.”
She almost laughed.
“That doesn’t sound romantic.”
“We fought.”
“About what?”
“Work. Family. Me being controlling.”
“That’s surprising.”
He almost smiled.
Then her expression changed.
“What happened the night she died?”
Damian answered slowly.
“She left the house after we argued.”
“About?”
His jaw tightened.
“Celeste.”
Anna looked up sharply.
Before Damian could explain, a crash came from the hallway.
Security shouted.
Damian ran.
A man dressed as catering staff sprinted toward the service exit.
“Stop!”
The man shoved a guard into the wall.
Damian chased him down the corridor.
The intruder reached inside his jacket.
Damian saw metal.
A knife.
The man spun.
Damian barely avoided the blade.
They hit the floor.
Security piled onto the attacker.
A small syringe rolled from his pocket.
Damian stared at it.
“What is that?”
May you like
The attacker smiled through bloody teeth.
“Something that worked better the first time.”
