Chapter 4 - THE RING DISAPPEARS
Celeste had vanished.
So had the sapphire.
Graham was furious.
“She took it?”
Theodore stared at him.
“You gave her the ring.”
“I didn't know what it was.”
“That's the problem.”
Graham looked toward Amelia.
“You knew?”
“No.”
“You're lying.”
Amelia stepped closer.
“I've been lied to enough.”
Graham's face tightened.
“I can explain.”
“Then explain.”
“I didn't know Celeste was related to Margaret.”
“You knew she wanted the ring.”
“I thought it was sentimental.”
“You thought an heirloom that disappeared decades ago was sentimental?”
Graham looked away.
Theodore slammed his cane against the floor.
“Enough.”
He turned toward his grandson.
“Tell us what you promised her.”
Graham remained silent.
“Graham.”
“I promised her a future.”
“With what?”
“The company.”
Amelia stared.
“You promised her Hale assets?”
“I thought she was entitled.”
“Because she told you she was Margaret's granddaughter?”
“Yes.”
“And you believed her?”
Graham nodded.
Theodore shook his head.
“She isn't the heir.”
Graham looked at Amelia.
“Then who is?”
Theodore answered.
“Amelia.”
Graham went completely still.
“What?”
“Your wife is Margaret's daughter.”
Graham laughed.
“No.”
Amelia watched him.
“That's what I thought too.”
Graham looked at Theodore.
“You've known?”
“For years.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was protecting her.”
Graham's expression changed.
“From whom?”
Theodore stared at him.
“Your father.”
Silence.
Graham stepped backward.
“My father is dead.”
“Dead men can leave secrets.”
Theodore opened the old ledger.
“Your father knew Margaret survived.”
Graham's voice dropped.
“What did he do?”
“He betrayed her.”
“How?”
“He told her he would help her escape.”
Theodore's eyes hardened.
“Then he took the sapphire and disappeared.”
“Why?”
“To protect the money.”
Graham looked sick.
“And Celeste?”
“She was raised believing the Hale family stole everything from her grandmother.”
“So she wants revenge.”
“Yes.”
“And I'm part of it.”
“Perhaps.”
Graham looked at Amelia.
His expression changed.
For the first time, he seemed genuinely ashamed.
“I didn't know.”
Amelia said nothing.
Then Theodore's phone rang.
He answered.
A voice spoke.
His face went white.
“Where?”
He hung up.
“What happened?” Amelia asked.
“The sapphire was found.”
“Where?”
“The police recovered it.”
“Then let's get it.”
Theodore shook his head.
“We can't.”
“Why?”
“Because Celeste isn't the one who took it.”
Amelia frowned.
“Then who?”
Theodore looked at Graham.
“Your father.”
Graham froze.
“My father is dead.”
“Yes.”
“Then how?”
Theodore placed the phone on the table.
A photograph had been sent to it.
A man standing outside a private bank.
Older.
Gray-haired.
But unmistakable.
Graham's father.
Alive.
May you like
And in his hand...
was the sapphire ring.
