Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN WHO OPENED THE GATE
Celeste's car was stopped twenty miles from the estate.
The bearded man escaped before officers reached the vehicle.
Celeste was taken in for questioning.
She claimed she had been threatened.
She said the man forced her to drive.
But investigators found messages showing that she had communicated with him for weeks.
The man used several names.
One was Daniel Cross.
Another was Peter Lawson.
His real identity remained uncertain.
Dominic canceled the engagement.
Victoria arrived at the estate furious.
“You cannot humiliate me like this.”
Dominic stood in the library.
“Our wedding is over.”
She stared.
“You're making a mistake.”
“Someone tried to kill my son.”
“That has nothing to do with me.”
“Then cooperate with the investigation.”
Victoria's face tightened.
“You think my father will tolerate this?”
Dominic looked at her.
“I don't care what your father tolerates.”
She stepped closer.
“You need the Bellamy alliance.”
“No.”
His voice was quiet.
“I needed to believe it would protect Ethan.”
He looked toward the family photographs.
“I was wrong.”
Victoria left.
But before she reached the door, she turned.
“You think the little maid and her daughter are innocent?”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“What are you implying?”
Victoria smiled coldly.
“Ask Grace where she was the night her husband disappeared.”
Then she walked away.
I was in the staff kitchen when Dominic found me.
He looked troubled.
“Grace, I need to ask you something.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
“Victoria mentioned your husband.”
I went still.
I hadn't spoken about Michael Bennett in years.
Not at work.
Not with friends.
Not even with Lily.
Dominic watched my face.
“Grace?”
I swallowed.
“My husband died before Lily was born.”
Dominic looked surprised.
“I'm sorry.”
I shook my head.
“That's not the whole story.”
I sat down.
“My husband worked as an accountant for a shipping company.”
Dominic's expression changed.
“What company?”
I looked at him.
“Bellamy Maritime.”
The room went silent.
Michael had discovered irregularities in shipping records.
He told me he was worried.
Then he disappeared after leaving work one evening.
His car was found near the Hudson River.
Three days later, authorities recovered his body.
The death was ruled accidental.
I never believed it.
But I was pregnant.
Alone.
And terrified.
I couldn't afford a private investigator.
I couldn't afford to challenge a powerful company.
So I buried my husband.
Gave birth to Lily.
And tried to survive.
Dominic sat across from me.
“Why didn't you tell anyone?”
I laughed bitterly.
“Who would have listened?”
He looked down.
Then said, “I will.”
I stared.
He continued.
“Whatever happened to Michael, we'll find out.”
I wanted to believe him.
But I had learned that promises were easy.
May you like
Truth was harder.
And somewhere inside the Moretti estate, the past was beginning to catch up with us.
