Chapter 10: Celeste Without the Diamonds
Celeste accepted a plea agreement.
She avoided prison but lost the money, apartment, jewelry, and reputation she had gained through Adrian.
For six months, she lived quietly in a small coastal town.
No parties.
No photographers.
No powerful men sending cars.
One rainy afternoon, Helena found her sitting inside a nearly empty café.
Celeste stiffened.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to ask one question.”
Celeste looked toward the window.
“I already told investigators everything.”
“This is not about the investigation.”
Helena sat across from her.
“Why did you hate me?”
Celeste gave a short laugh.
“I didn’t.”
“You helped humiliate me.”
“I wanted your life.”
“That is not the same thing.”
Celeste’s eyes hardened.
“You had everything. Money. Education. A family name. And you walked around pretending you were ordinary.”
“I never pretended.”
“You carried that ugly purse.”
“It belonged to my mother.”
Celeste went silent.
Helena continued.
“She used it when she started her first company. She died before Marlowe International became what it is now.”
The brown purse had never represented poverty.
It represented history.
Celeste looked down.
“I thought you were weak.”
“So did Adrian.”
“He said you depended on him.”
“He needed to believe that.”
Celeste’s voice softened.
“I planted the necklace because Evelyn promised Adrian would divorce you immediately.”
“And then?”
“Adrian said we would marry.”
“Did you believe him?”
Celeste smiled bitterly.
“I believed the version of him that benefited me.”
Helena stood.
“Then we made the same mistake.”
Celeste looked surprised.
“You forgive me?”
“No.”
Helena placed a business card on the table.
“But a nonprofit I fund helps people rebuild after financial crimes. They need administrative staff.”
Celeste stared at the card.
“Why would you help me?”
“I’m not helping you escape consequences. I’m showing you what comes after them.”
Helena walked away.
May you like
Celeste remained at the table, looking at the card for a long time.
For the first time in years, the next decision belonged entirely to her.
