Chapter 8 - THE NIGHT MY HUSBAND LEARNED WHO I WAS
Adrian stood in our living room when I arrived.
Celeste was beside the fireplace.
No scarlet coat.
No hotel smile.
Just anger.
Adrian looked between us.
“Elise, what is going on?”
I set my handbag down.
“What did she tell you?”
Celeste folded her arms.
“That you interfered with the partnership.”
Adrian stared.
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
His face changed.
“How?”
I looked at him.
For eleven months of marriage, he had believed I was simply the daughter of a wealthy but private hotel owner.
Someone with inheritance.
Comfort.
Connections.
But not control.
“My father left me his majority voting interest in Vale Harbor.”
Silence.
Adrian stopped breathing.
Celeste’s expression confirmed she already knew.
I continued.
“The partnership cannot proceed without my approval.”
Adrian stared.
“You control Vale Harbor?”
“Enough of it.”
He sat down slowly.
Then something ugly happened.
Not grief.
Not shame.
Calculation.
I watched him do the math.
His failing company.
The credit facility.
My voting power.
Then he looked toward me.
“Elise, why didn’t you tell me?”
I almost laughed.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were sleeping with Celeste?”
His face went white.
Silence.
Celeste closed her eyes.
Adrian stood.
“Elise—”
“I watched you walk into my hotel with her.”
He froze.
“My hotel, Adrian.”
His mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
“I watched you call me from the lobby while she adjusted your coat.”
He looked toward Celeste.
Then back at me.
“I can explain.”
“No.”
My voice stayed calm.
“That sentence has expired.”
He stepped closer.
“It wasn't what you think.”
I laughed.
“Room 4186. Sixteen bookings. Five months.”
His face collapsed.
Celeste looked toward me.
“You accessed guest records?”
“I own the building.”
For once, she had nothing to say.
Then I placed the forged credit authorization on the table.
Adrian’s face changed again.
“Where did you get that?”
Interesting.
Not “what is that?”
He recognized it.
“You knew.”
He looked down.
“Elise—”
“You knew someone forged my signature.”
“I was told it was preliminary.”
“You saw my name.”
“I thought Claudia had authority.”
“To forge me?”
Silence.
Then Celeste spoke.
“Adrian didn't create the signature.”
I turned.
“But he was willing to use it.”
She looked away.
Exactly.
Then I asked the question that mattered.
“Did you marry me because of Vale Harbor?”
Adrian’s eyes filled.
“No.”
I wanted to believe him.
That was the worst part.
He continued.
“I loved you.”
“Past tense?”
His face broke.
“I love you.”
I looked toward Celeste.
She laughed bitterly.
“Apparently he loves everyone.”
Then she reached into her handbag and placed a flash drive on the table.
“Neither of you understands Claudia.”
Adrian frowned.
“What is that?”
Celeste looked at me.
“Proof.”
“Of what?”
She swallowed.
“That your father was planning to expose her.”
My pulse quickened.
“And?”
Celeste’s voice dropped.
“Claudia knew before he died.”
May you like
Then she delivered the secret that changed the room.
“She had access to his medication.”
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