Chapter 5 - THE FIRST WIFE
Daniel moved in front of Noah.
Again.
It was becoming instinct.
Celeste looked different now.
The perfect billionaire’s wife was gone.
Her hair had fallen loose.
Her diamond necklace was crooked.
Her mascara had streaked beneath one eye.
But the gun in her hand was steady.
“Give me the folder.”
Daniel stared at her.
“You poisoned Evelyn?”
Celeste laughed once.
“You think I did everything?”
“Answer me!”
Noah flinched.
Celeste looked at the boy.
“This is why children shouldn’t listen to adult conversations.”
Daniel took a step toward her.
“Don’t look at him.”
“Daniel—”
“LOOK AT ME.”
She did.
He held up the toxicology report.
“My wife was poisoned.”
“Your wife was already destroying your family.”
“She was Noah’s mother.”
“She was going to destroy the company.”
Daniel stared at her.
“And that mattered more than her life?”
Celeste’s mouth tightened.
“You built Mercer Global with your blood. Evelyn was ready to hand prosecutors everything.”
“What everything?”
For the first time, Celeste hesitated.
Daniel saw it.
“What did my brother do?”
“Put the file down.”
“What did Andrew do?”
The recorder beeped.
Celeste’s eyes snapped toward Noah.
“Turn that off.”
Noah didn’t move.
“Turn it off!”
“No.”
Celeste pointed the gun at him.
Daniel lunged forward.
“DON’T!”
Hannah stepped between them.
“Celeste, there are police outside.”
“You don’t know which police.”
“You can’t shoot a child in front of witnesses.”
Celeste smiled.
“What witnesses?”
The ballroom beyond them was nearly empty.
Then they heard sirens.
Celeste’s smile vanished.
Daniel slowly lowered the folder.
“You’re finished.”
“No.”
“You kidnapped my son.”
“No.”
“You faked his death.”
“I saved your company.”
Daniel stared at her.
“I would burn every dollar I have to get back one day with my son.”
For the first time, Celeste looked almost angry enough to cry.
“That’s easy to say now.”
“What does that mean?”
She looked toward Noah.
“Ask your brother.”
Suddenly, something crashed inside the service tunnel.
Celeste turned her head.
Hannah moved.
She kicked Celeste’s wrist.
The gun fired.
Daniel grabbed Noah and threw himself over him.
Celeste hit Hannah across the face.
Hannah slammed into the wall.
Daniel jumped up.
Celeste ran.
“Hannah!”
“I’m okay!”
Daniel chased Celeste into the ballroom.
She disappeared through the kitchen doors.
Police flooded the front entrance.
“Hands where we can see them!”
Daniel stopped.
“Officer, my son was kidnapped. My wife—”
“Hands up!”
Daniel slowly lifted his hands.
Detective Mara Ruiz entered behind the uniforms.
Sharp eyes.
Dark suit.
No panic.
She took in the broken wall, the child, the gun on the floor, and Daniel’s bloody shirt.
“Mr. Mercer?”
“Yes.”
“Where is your wife?”
“She ran through the kitchen.”
Ruiz motioned to two officers.
“Find her.”
Then she turned toward Noah.
Daniel said, “My son was declared dead three years ago.”
Ruiz’s expression barely changed.
“I know.”
Daniel stared.
“How?”
Ruiz looked at him carefully.
“Because twenty minutes before we received the emergency call from your house, your wife called the police.”
Daniel’s stomach dropped.
“What did she say?”
Ruiz hesitated.
“She said Hannah Cole kidnapped your son three years ago.”
Everyone turned toward Hannah.
Hannah went completely still.
Ruiz continued.
“And she says tonight Hannah brought him back to blackmail your family.”
Daniel looked at Hannah.
“Hannah?”
Hannah closed her eyes.
May you like
And whispered:
“There’s something I should have told you a long time ago.”
