Chapter 8 - THE TESTIMONY
Grace refused to disappear.
Damian argued.
Cole argued.
Her sister begged.
Grace still refused.
“If I hide, Gabriel wins.”
Damian stood across from her.
“If you die, Gabriel wins more.”
Grace flinched.
He regretted the words instantly.
But they were true.
So Grace agreed to enter federal protection long enough to give a sealed deposition.
Her testimony lasted six hours.
She described Camille’s treatment of Noah.
The threats.
The planted evidence.
The trust conversation.
The hidden cameras.
The abduction.
For the first time, outsiders heard the entire story in sequence.
It changed everything.
A federal prosecutor named Rachel Monroe noticed a detail others missed.
“Camille said Gabriel wanted records showing Noah was unstable.”
“Yes.”
“And she mentioned a pediatrician?”
“Yes.”
Rachel turned toward Damian.
“Who chose Noah’s pediatric specialist last year?”
Damian frowned.
“Gabriel recommended the clinic.”
Records were subpoenaed.
The results were horrifying.
Noah’s medical chart contained false entries.
Aggression.
Developmental instability.
Possible attachment disorder.
None matched his actual evaluations.
Someone had been creating medical evidence against Noah since he was seven months old.
Grace stared at the files.
“This started before Camille became violent.”
Rachel nodded.
“It started before Grace joined the household.”
That mattered.
Grace had been selected afterward.
Not randomly.
Gabriel needed a nanny.
Someone with no powerful family.
No wealth.
No political connections.
Someone believable as a scapegoat.
Grace Miller was perfect.
Except Gabriel underestimated one thing.
She would fight.
Camille eventually agreed to cooperate fully.
Her testimony matched Grace’s.
She admitted her crimes.
She also revealed Gabriel’s next move.
“There’s a hearing.”
“What hearing?” Rachel asked.
“The Continuity Council.”
Damian’s expression changed.
Camille nodded.
“Gabriel wants Damian declared permanently unfit to control Hawthorne interests.”
Cole frowned.
“He needs all three council votes.”
“He has Mercer.”
“And me?”
“He plans to remove you.”
Cole gave a humorless smile.
“How?”
Camille looked at him.
“You’re supposed to die tomorrow.”
Silence.
Cole stared.
“Where?”
“The charity gala.”
Damian turned.
“What gala?”
“The Voss Children’s Initiative anniversary.”
Gabriel was hosting hundreds of Chicago’s elite.
Judges.
Politicians.
Police officials.
Donors.
Media.
Cole was scheduled to attend.
The plan became clear.
Gabriel wanted Cole killed publicly.
Damian blamed.
Then Gabriel and Judge Mercer would control the Continuity Council.
Grace asked,
“Why would Damian attend?”
Camille looked at her.
“Because Gabriel has something he wants.”
“What?”
Camille swallowed.
“Isabel’s original medical file.”
Damian went completely still.
“He kept it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Insurance.”
Damian’s eyes hardened.
Grace knew he would go.
So did Gabriel.
That was the trap.
At the gala the next evening, Damian entered without weapons.
Grace remained in a secure command vehicle with Rachel Monroe.
Cole attended wearing a concealed vest.
Gabriel stood beneath chandeliers greeting guests as though nothing had happened.
When Damian approached, Gabriel smiled.
“You look tired.”
“You took my son.”
“I returned him.”
“You murdered Isabel.”
Gabriel’s expression did not change.
“Careful.”
Damian leaned closer.
“Where is her file?”
Gabriel smiled.
“Still predictable.”
Then every light in the ballroom dimmed.
A gunshot cracked.
Guests screamed.
Cole fell.
Damian turned.
Security rushed him.
Someone had placed a weapon beneath Damian’s table.
Gabriel watched from across the room.
Perfectly calm.
Then Grace’s voice came through Damian’s earpiece.
“Don’t touch it.”
Damian froze.
Rachel shouted through communications.
“Cole is alive.”
The vest worked.
Then Grace saw something on surveillance.
A waiter leaving through the west door.
She recognized his walk.
The same figure from the nursery monitor.
“Damian.”
“Yes?”
“The watcher.”
“I see him.”
“West exit.”
Damian looked across the ballroom.
May you like
For the first time, the conspiracy had a face.
And it wasn’t Gabriel.
