Chapter 5 - The Unraveling of Celeste
By midnight, the party had ended. The guests had departed in quiet, hushed conversations that would feed the Chicago rumor mill for months.
Inside Mason’s private study, his chief financial investigator, David Sterling, laid a thick leather folder on the desk.
“We ran a complete audit on Celeste Harrington’s personal accounts over the last three hours,” David reported calmly. “Her family’s real estate firm went into secret receivership two months ago. She has over four million dollars in personal gambling debts at casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.”
Mason leaned back in his leather chair, staring out the window at the snow falling over the estate gardens. “She was planning to report the Whitaker Star stolen, collect the insurance payout through a straw buyer, and blame Evelyn.”
“Precisely,” David agreed. “She knew the necklace was insured for six million dollars. Framing a newly hired maid with no legal representation was the cleanest way to ensure the insurance claim went through without suspicion.”
Mason closed his eyes, taking a deep, heavy breath. He had almost tied his life, his family’s name, and his mother’s memory to a woman who possessed no soul.
“What about Evelyn Parker?” Mason asked, opening his eyes.
“We ran a background check on her as standard procedure after the incident,” David said, opening a second file. “She was a junior accountant at a regional bank in Kentucky three years ago. Her husband died in a industrial accident while she was pregnant with Lily. She sold everything she owned to pay off his medical bills and moved here for work. She has never owed a dime to anyone.”
Mason took the file, looking at the photo of Evelyn holding a newborn Lily in a small hospital room. Her eyes were tired, but they carried an unshakeable, fierce devotion.
“Call my legal team,” Mason commanded softly. “I want a permanent trust fund established for Lily Parker tomorrow morning. Full educational coverage, medical care, and housing security.”
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“And Evelyn, sir?”
“Offer her the position of House Manager,” Mason said. “Mrs. Bell is retiring next month. Evelyn has more integrity in her pinky finger than anyone who walked through my front door tonight.”
