Chapter 4 - Celeste’s Confession
Before Adrian could lunge forward in a blind rage, two uniformed federal marshals and three private security operatives entered the foyer through the shattered front door.
“Adrian Cole and Celeste Cole?” the lead marshal demanded, stepping into the dining room with handcuffs ready.
Celeste shrieked, her composure shattering entirely. She collapsed onto the velvet dining chair, burying her face in her hands and sobbing hysterically. “I didn't steal her! I swear I didn't steal her from the crib! It was her mother! Her mother gave her to us—!”
Gabriel froze. Every muscle in his body went rigid. He turned slowly toward Celeste, his expression turning into something terrifying.
“What did you say?” Gabriel asked, his voice a lethal whisper.
Celeste shook her head frantically, her voice trembling. “Twenty years ago... your wife’s sister was in massive gambling debt! She took the baby from the estate to use as leverage against you, but things went wrong! She panicked and left the infant at Saint Anne’s! I... I worked at the adoption agency! I saw the shawl, I saw the necklace, and I kept it! When Adrian met Mara years later in college, I recognized the necklace immediately! That’s why we pushed him to marry her—we thought she’d inherit a piece of the Vale estate eventually!”
The full, horrific picture clicked into place. They hadn't just abused me; they had stalked me, trapped me, and manipulated my entire life as part of a long-term extortion and asset-theft plot.
“God help you both,” Gabriel whispered, his voice trembling with rage.
The marshals moved in swiftly, snapping heavy steel handcuffs around Adrian’s wrists and securing Celeste by her arms.
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Adrian thrashed wildly, screaming as they dragged him toward the exit. “Mara! Mara, you can’t do this! We’re married! We’re husband and wife! Think of our life together!”
“My name is Mara Vale,” I said, looking down at him with absolute indifference as he was hauled away. “And our marriage is over.”
