Chapter 18 - THE FALSE VICTORY
Celeste's mother, Diane Marlow, had been presumed dead for nine years.
Not legally.
Emotionally.
Celeste had told Adrian they were estranged and that Diane lived somewhere in Europe.
The truth was more complicated.
After Evan died, Diane became obsessed with proving he had been murdered.
Celeste eventually begged her to stop.
Their relationship collapsed.
Diane disappeared into private life.
Now she stood at the Vale gates holding evidence.
“I received Evan's second package,” she said.
Celeste stared.
“You had it?”
“For fifteen years.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because you were nineteen and already destroying yourself.”
“You let me think there was no proof.”
“I was afraid Simon would kill you too.”
Celeste began crying.
Diane did not apologize.
She handed Adrian a thick envelope.
Inside was Evan's last insurance policy.
Names.
Dates.
Copies of messages.
And a handwritten statement describing Victor's threats.
It was enough.
The federal indictment came two days later.
Simon Hart.
Victor Raines.
Nathan Wexler.
Owen Pike.
Eric Dalton.
Dr. Lowell received a cooperation agreement.
Julian faced separate financial charges.
Celeste faced conspiracy and attempted unlawful detention charges because of her participation in Adrian's planned abduction.
Adrian refused to interfere.
She did not ask him to.
“I crossed the line,” she said.
“Yes.”
“I thought revenge made it different.”
“It didn't.”
“I know.”
She agreed to cooperate fully.
Prosecutors considered her role, evidence, and lack of intent to physically harm Adrian.
But consequences remained.
For several days, it seemed over.
Then Simon Hart disappeared from federal custody.
A transport error.
One compromised officer.
One stolen vehicle.
The man Adrian thought defeated vanished.
At 10:30 that night, Adrian received a call.
Simon.
“You should've left the past buried.”
Adrian said nothing.
Simon continued.
“You destroyed Charles.”
“He destroyed himself.”
“You destroyed the company.”
“No.”
“You will.”
Adrian looked through the library windows.
Thomas and Maya were staying in a guarded guesthouse.
Celeste was with federal agents.
Daniel was on duty.
“Where are you?”
Simon laughed.
“Still asking the wrong question.”
“What question should I ask?”
“Why did I need you in New York?”
Adrian froze.
His private plane.
The Wexler closing.
The fake driver had been intended to divert him before he reached the airport.
But why arrange a New York trip at all?
Simon continued.
“You think Orchard House was the destination.”
“It wasn't?”
“It was insurance.”
Adrian understood.
Something had been placed on his plane.
He called aviation security immediately.
The jet had remained grounded since the first morning.
Investigators searched it.
Inside a concealed maintenance compartment, they found documents, cash, and illegal financial records.
All bearing Adrian's fingerprints.
Planted.
Had Adrian reached New York, authorities would have discovered them after an anonymous tip.
If he took the fake car, he disappeared.
If he somehow used another vehicle and boarded the aircraft, he was arrested.
Every path had been covered.
Almost.
Maya changed the path.
Simon spoke again.
“The funny thing about plans, Adrian, is you only need one person to behave predictably.”
Adrian looked toward the roses.
“You built your entire plan around me not paying attention.”
“Yes.”
“That was your mistake.”
“No.”
Simon sounded amused.
“My mistake was underestimating the gardener's daughter.”
The line disconnected.
Then the mansion alarm sounded.
South gate.
Adrian ran outside.
A vehicle had crashed through the barrier.
Empty.
A diversion.
He turned toward the greenhouse.
Smoke began rising.
Not from the building.
From the old irrigation tunnel entrance.
May you like
Simon was inside the estate.
And this time, he knew exactly where Maya would run.
