CHAP 7 — THE ASHFORD HOUSE
Camilla’s childhood home sat behind iron gates in Lake Forest.
Federal agents could not search it without a warrant.
Camilla could enter whenever she wanted.
So she did.
Alone.
At least, that was what Alden Ashford was supposed to believe.
A recording device was hidden inside her bracelet.
Cole hated the plan.
Enzo hated it more.
But Camilla insisted.
“For twenty years I have done exactly what my father told me,” she said. “If I run now, he still owns me.”
Adeline watched her.
Something had changed between the two women.
Not forgiveness.
Not remotely.
But cruelty had been replaced by something more complicated.
Camilla looked at Adeline’s bandaged wrist.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me.”
“Good.”
“I was angry.”
“That explains it. It doesn’t excuse it.”
Camilla nodded.
“I know.”
It was the first apology she had ever given without adding the word but.
Inside the Ashford mansion, Alden waited in his library.
He was seventy, immaculate, silver-haired, and carried the calm certainty of a man accustomed to other people obeying before he finished speaking.
“You embarrassed the family.”
Camilla almost laughed.
“That seems to be everyone’s favorite accusation this week.”
“You assaulted a servant in front of two hundred witnesses.”
“You taught me that people beneath us only understand consequences.”
Alden’s expression did not change.
“I taught you never to lose control publicly.”
There it was.
Not outrage at what she had done.
Only disappointment that people had seen it.
Camilla sat.
“You sent Conrad to the party.”
“No.”
“He poisoned Enzo’s drink.”
“Did he?”
“You know he did.”
Alden poured himself brandy.
“Conrad has always been overly enthusiastic.”
“My mother.”
His hand stopped.
“What about her?”
“You said we would discuss her.”
“We are.”
“How did she die?”
“Cancer.”
“That’s what I was told.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Was St. Catherine treating her?”
Alden looked at her.
Camilla’s heartbeat accelerated.
“Yes.”
“Did Benjamin Vale die there?”
A pause.
“I don’t recall.”
“Did Carlo Marchetti?”
“Half of Chicago dies at St. Catherine eventually.”
Camilla leaned forward.
“Did Lucia Croft?”
That finally broke something.
Not much.
Just a tiny tightening around his eyes.
But the microphone caught the silence.
Alden set down the glass.
“Where did you hear that name?”
“My fiancé.”
“Former fiancé.”
Camilla felt the insult but did not react.
“You wanted me to marry him for his companies.”
“I wanted you to marry him because marriage has always been how powerful families become stronger.”
“And then make him sick.”
Alden smiled.
“Do you hear yourself?”
“Conrad put digitalis in his glass.”
“Then perhaps Conrad should have been more careful.”
Camilla stopped breathing.
Outside, in the surveillance van, Cole looked at Enzo.
There.
Not a confession.
But close.
Camilla pushed harder.
“Did you kill my mother?”
Alden’s expression went flat.
“Your mother was weak.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“She threatened to leave.”
Camilla’s eyes filled.
“Why?”
“She misunderstood certain financial arrangements.”
“What arrangements?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“I do now.”
Alden came around the desk.
He leaned close to his daughter.
“You have spent thirty-six years benefiting from a world you suddenly find morally offensive because a man took his coat off for a maid.”
Camilla flinched.
“This is not about Enzo.”
“It is entirely about Enzo.”
“No.”
For the first time in her life, she looked her father directly in the eyes.
“It’s about becoming like you.”
Alden studied her.
Then smiled.
“You already are.”
Camilla went pale.
Outside, Adeline looked down.
Even after what Camilla had done to her, she felt the cruelty of those words.
Then Alden reached for Camilla’s wrist.
His fingers closed around the bracelet.
He looked at it.
Camilla froze.
Alden had given her thousands of dollars in jewelry over the years.
He knew every piece she owned.
“I’ve never seen this before.”
The van erupted into movement.
“Get her out,” Enzo ordered.
Agents rushed toward the house.
Alden tore the bracelet from Camilla’s wrist.
He stared at the tiny microphone.
Then at his daughter.
“You stupid girl.”
The front doors crashed open downstairs.
Alden did not panic.
He smiled.
That frightened Camilla more.
“You think I built everything in this house without planning for the day someone came through those doors?”
He pressed a button beneath his desk.
The computer screens went black.
A faint burning smell filled the room.
Alden was destroying the servers.
Camilla lunged for the desk.
He shoved her aside and headed toward a private exit.
But Adeline had seen the house plans.
She knew where that exit emerged.
And when Alden Ashford stepped through a hidden garden door, expecting a waiting car—
Adeline Croft stood in front of it.
Not with a weapon.
With a camera.
She photographed the man who had spent two decades erasing records.
Behind Alden, federal agents closed in.
He looked at Adeline.
And for the first time, his composure vanished.
“You.”
Adeline stared at him.
“Yes.”
His expression changed.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
“You have your mother’s eyes.”
Adeline went cold.
“You knew her.”
Alden smiled.
“I knew her very well.”
May you like
Before agents handcuffed him, he leaned close enough for only Adeline to hear.
“Ask Enzo who paid for the fire.”
