Chapter 5
Celeste called the Wellington payments a misunderstanding.
Dante did not confront her alone.
Claire and Rebecca were both present.
“Wellington coordinated household educational services,” Celeste said.
“Name one person who worked with Ava,” Claire replied.
Celeste looked irritated.
“I did not personally supervise every contractor.”
Dante stared at her.
“You submitted the invoices.”
“Yes.”
“For services to my daughter.”
“Our daughter.”
The correction angered him for reasons he could not fully explain.
Not because Celeste was wrong to care about Ava.
Because she was using the language of motherhood while refusing a basic question about money taken in Ava’s name.
Claire slid copies across the table.
“The registered agent for Wellington also represented Bellrose Events.”
Celeste’s expression changed.
Dante knew Bellrose.
It had been Celeste’s event-planning company before their marriage.
She told him she sold it.
Claire continued.
“Bellrose dissolved fourteen months ago with several outstanding commercial obligations.”
Celeste looked toward her attorney.
Rebecca said nothing.
Dante finally understood one part.
“You still owed money.”
Celeste’s voice became defensive.
“It was complicated.”
“How much?”
“Dante—”
“How much?”
“About six hundred thousand.”
The room went quiet.
Dante had signed a prenuptial agreement with Celeste precisely because both of them had assets and liabilities before marriage.
She had disclosed no six-hundred-thousand-dollar obligation.
“Why hide it?”
“I thought the company would resolve it.”
“With money from Ava’s trust?”
Celeste’s face tightened.
“I did not steal from Ava.”
“Then explain Wellington.”
She did not.
The meeting ended through counsel.
Outside, Claire stopped Dante before he reached his car.
“Do not jump from suspicious invoices to a complete fraud theory.”
“She lied about the debt.”
“Yes.”
“She created a vendor.”
“Likely.”
“She billed my daughter.”
“Likely.”
Dante looked at her.
“You enjoy saying likely.”
“I enjoy keeping you from turning suspicion into fact before we prove it.”
He reluctantly nodded.
Then Claire added, “There’s another problem.”
Marcus’s side company had received a large consulting contract from one of the Caruso legitimate businesses seven months earlier.
The approval occurred days after the first suspicious Wellington reimbursement.
Dante frowned.
“I didn’t approve that contract.”
“Your executive committee did.”
“Marcus sits on it.”
“Yes.”
“So?”
“Celeste recommended the outside consulting firm that evaluated the bid.”
Dante stared at her.
Now Marcus and Celeste were financially connected.
Maybe not lovers.
Maybe partners.
The simple betrayal story changed again.
Dante began to suspect his wife and brother had been using his daughter’s money on one side and family-company access on the other.
May you like
If that was true, the cufflink was not evidence of sex.
It was evidence of meetings.
