Chapter 13
Alistair ordered Celeste to leave with him.
She refused.
That surprised everyone.
“Dad.”
“Now.”
“No.”
His eyes hardened.
“Do not embarrass me further.”
Celeste laughed.
A strange sound.
“You mean like Evelyn embarrassed you?”
He went still.
Marcus whispered:
“Celeste.”
She turned on him.
“You knew?”
Marcus looked away.
There.
Another family betrayal.
Celeste stared at her father.
“You told me this marriage protected us.”
“It does.”
“You wanted revenge.”
“I wanted correction.”
Nolan—no, I kept silent.
Let them unravel.
Celeste continued.
“You made me spend four years building this.”
Alistair shrugged.
“You wanted Nolan.”
“I wanted him.”
“Then we both benefited.”
Her face changed.
For once, she understood she had been used too.
Not innocent.
Used.
Different thing.
Mae watched quietly.
Celeste noticed.
“What are you looking at?”
Mae said nothing.
Celeste laughed cruelly.
“Enjoying this?”
“No.”
“You should.”
“No.”
Mae looked at Nora.
“I already know what it feels like when someone powerful decides your life is useful.”
That silenced Celeste.
Alistair turned to me.
“This can still be repaired.”
I almost laughed.
“How?”
“Mae and the child leave.”
Nora gripped Mae’s skirt.
Alistair continued as if discussing furniture.
“Celeste remains.”
“No.”
“Marcus apologizes.”
“No.”
“The Wainwright alliance proceeds.”
“No.”
His face hardened.
“You would collapse years of stability over one servant and a child you met today?”
I stepped closer.
“I met my daughter three years late because of you.”
“She is alive.”
There it was.
Alive.
Their favorite defense.
I looked at Marcus.
“You said the same.”
Then Celeste.
“You too.”
Then Alistair.
“All three of you measure cruelty by whether the victim survives.”
He smiled.
“Survival is the only measure that matters.”
Nora whispered:
“No.”
Everyone looked down.
She was still hiding behind Mae.
Alistair frowned.
“What?”
Nora looked at him.
“Mommy cries at night.”
Silence.
Mae closed her eyes.
Nora continued:
“That matters.”
Three years old.
Simple truth.
Alistair looked annoyed.
And that was when Celeste finally looked ashamed.
May you like
Not enough to erase what she had done.
Enough to crack the family logic she had lived inside.
