Chapter 8: The Last Lie
Celeste didn't cry.
She didn't apologize.
Instead, she looked at Harold and said, "You have no idea what you're talking about.""
Harold remained calm.
"I have the records.""
"Records can be manipulated.""
"Then you should welcome an independent investigation.""
Celeste turned toward Russell.
"Are you going to let these people accuse me?""
Russell looked at the transfer request.
Then at his wife.
"Did you submit it?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
"Celeste, look at me.""
"I said no.""
Russell stood.
"Did you use my name to submit a false affidavit?""
Her eyes narrowed.
"You signed the affidavit yourself.""
"Because you told me it was a formality!""
"And you signed it without reading it.""
Russell stopped.
For a moment, the two of them stared at each other.
Quentin finally spoke.
"You're both responsible.""
His father looked at him.
"Son—"
"Don't.""
Quentin turned toward Celeste.
"You tried to take my mother away from me. Then you tried to take the money Grandpa left us. And now you're arguing about which one of you is more guilty?""
Celeste's expression hardened.
"I gave up twenty years of my life for this family.""
Quentin shook his head.
"Then why did you need to steal someone else's place?""
She stepped closer.
"Because I was tired of being invisible!""
Her voice cracked.
"Every Christmas, every birthday, every family photograph. Lena was always the important one. Even when she wasn't there, you talked about her.
You called her first. You asked her opinion. You wanted her approval.""
Quentin looked at her.
"Because she's my mother.""
Celeste's eyes filled.
"And what was I?""
He didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, "You were someone I hoped would love me without needing to replace her.""
The words landed harder than shouting.
Celeste looked away.
Simone moved beside Quentin.
"Celeste, you could have been part of this family without making Lena disappear.""
Celeste laughed bitterly.
"Easy for you to say. You have a mother who still gets to be your mother.""
Simone stared at her.
"Yes. And I would never ask her to stop.""
Patricia stepped forward.
"Celeste, I should have questioned what you were doing.""
Celeste turned.
"You were happy to help until it became inconvenient.""
Patricia nodded.
"You're right. I should have questioned Russell too. I should have spoken to Lena directly. I didn't, and I regret it.""
Lena looked at her.
"Then tell the truth now.""
Patricia nodded.
"I will.""
Harold gathered the documents.
"I need everyone's cooperation. The bank will be notified immediately. The original trust records will be reviewed, and the suspicious transfer will remain blocked.""
Celeste reached for the folder.
"Those are private family documents.""
Harold pulled them away.
"They are relevant evidence.""
Quentin stepped toward the door.
"I'm going to check on my guests.""
Lena touched his arm.
"Baby, you don't have to pretend everything is fine.""
He looked at her.
"I know.""
"Your wedding is still your wedding.""
He gave a tired smile.
"I wanted tonight to be perfect.""
Lena brushed his cheek.
"It was never supposed to be perfect. It was supposed to be yours.""
Quentin embraced her.
For several seconds, he held her like he was afraid she might disappear.
Then his phone rang.
The screen showed an unfamiliar number.
He answered.
"Hello?""
A woman introduced herself as a representative from the bank administering the Brooks Family Trust.
"Mr. Brooks, we're calling because an additional document has been submitted regarding the pending transfer.""
Quentin frowned.
"What document?""
"A written authorization from the current trustee.""
"Who is the current trustee?""
"Your father, Mr. Russell Brooks.""
Quentin looked toward Russell.
"That's impossible. My father just denied authorizing the transfer.""
The woman paused.
"Mr. Brooks, the document contains his electronic signature and a recorded verification.""
Quentin stepped away from the others.
"Can you tell me when it was submitted?""
"Approximately forty minutes ago.""
He checked the time.
Forty minutes ago, Russell had been sitting in the private room with them.
Quentin turned.
"Did you submit something to the bank tonight?""
Russell shook his head.
"No.""
The woman continued.
"There's another detail. The verification was completed using a voice authorization.""
Quentin's stomach tightened.
"Whose voice?""
"Mr. Russell Brooks.""
Russell heard the question and stepped closer.
"Put it on speaker.""
Quentin did.
The bank representative explained that the voice recording was attached to the authorization.
Harold asked for a copy.
The representative said it would be sent through the bank's secure legal channel.
Then she added something else.
"The authorization also changes the designated emergency contact for the trust.""
Quentin frowned.
"To whom?""
The representative read the name.
"Celeste Russell.""
Everyone turned toward Celeste.
She shook her head.
"That's not possible.""
Harold looked at Russell.
"Did you ever authorize her to act on your behalf?""
Russell's face had gone pale.
"Never.""
Celeste began backing toward the door.
Quentin stepped forward.
"Where are you going?""
"Home.""
"You're staying until we know what's happening.""
"I don't have to answer to you!""
She reached for the door handle.
Simone moved between her and the exit.
"Then answer one question before you go.""
Celeste glared.
"What?""
Simone's voice trembled.
"Did you use my identification to collect that document because you knew nobody would suspect you?""
Celeste looked at her.
For a moment, she seemed ready to deny everything.
Then she said quietly:
"Your mother offered to help.""
Patricia shook her head.
"I collected an envelope. I didn't authorize anything.""
Celeste turned toward her.
"You were the one who told me the bank wouldn't question the paperwork if the family appeared united.""
Patricia stared.
"I never said that.""
Quentin looked at Harold.
"Can we get the original verification recording?""
Harold nodded.
"We'll request it.""
But before anyone could speak again, the ballroom door opened.
A young man in a black suit entered.
He was carrying a tablet.
"Mr. Brooks?""
Quentin turned.
"Yes?""
"I'm from the bank's wedding-event security team. We were asked to deliver this personally.""
Quentin frowned.
"The bank sent someone here?""
The man nodded.
He placed the tablet on the table.
"There's an issue with the identity verification. The person who authorized the transfer appears to have used a recorded voice sample.""
Russell leaned forward.
"What does that mean?""
The man looked at the screen.
"It means the recording may have been played through a device rather than spoken live.""
Harold stared at him.
"Do you have the recording?""
The man nodded.
He pressed play.
Russell's voice filled the room.
"I authorize the transfer of funds...""
Then came a second voice, speaking faintly in the background.
A woman's voice.
Quentin recognized it immediately.
So did Lena.
Celeste's face drained of color.
Because the recording didn't just reveal that someone had used Russell's voice.
It revealed the person who had been standing beside him when it happened.
May you like
And that person had said:
"Make sure Lena never finds out.""
