Chapter 12 - Celeste’s Version of the Truth
Celeste demanded an attorney before answering questions.
Nathaniel Briggs arrived within forty minutes.
Felix watched from the far end of the hallway.
He could not hear them.
He did not need to.
Briggs was nervous.
Celeste was furious.
That combination told him enough.
By midnight, investigators had established that the hospital order had been submitted through Arden Events Group.
Celeste claimed her credentials had been misused.
Briggs claimed the school kitchen message had been administrative.
Neither explanation addressed the pattern.
Sarah remained beside Lily.
Felix sat outside because the intensive care room allowed only one parent at a time.
Parent.
The word still felt new.
At one in the morning, Odette arrived.
She looked older than she had that morning.
“May I see her?”
Felix stared at her.
“No.”
Odette swallowed.
“I am her grandmother.”
“You were her grandmother for six years without bothering to let me know she existed.”
Odette absorbed the blow.
“I didn’t know Sarah carried the pregnancy to term.”
Sarah’s voice came from the doorway.
“You received the birth announcement.”
Odette turned.
Sarah held another document.
Mateo had found it among archived mail records.
A copy of the certified letter Sarah sent after Lily was born.
It contained Lily’s name.
Her date of birth.
And a photograph.
Odette looked at it.
Her face emptied.
Felix stared at his mother.
“You knew.”
“I never opened—”
“Your assistant signed for it.”
“I was told the matter had been resolved.”
Sarah’s eyes hardened.
“A child is not a matter.”
Odette lowered her gaze.
For the first time in seven years, she did not defend herself.
“I was wrong.”
Sarah shook her head.
“That sentence is too small.”
Odette nodded once.
“I know.”
Felix stepped closer.
“Help us.”
Odette looked at him.
“If you want any chance of being part of Lily’s life, help us prove what Celeste did.”
Fear crossed Odette’s face.
Not fear of Felix.
Fear of what cooperation would reveal.
Felix saw it.
“What else is in the archive?”
Odette looked toward Lily’s room.
Then she whispered, “Enough to destroy the company as we know it.”
Felix did not hesitate.
“Then destroy it.”
Odette stared at her son.
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
“No.”
Her voice became quieter.
“The archive does not only prove what happened to Sarah.”
“What else does it prove?”
Odette looked at Celeste sitting beside Briggs beyond the security doors.
“It proves Celeste was never supposed to be your fiancée.”
Felix frowned.
Odette continued.
“The relationship was arranged long before you believed you chose her.”
May you like
And suddenly the betrayal was larger than even Felix had imagined.
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