Chapter 5 - Reclaiming the CrownWhen we arrived back at Bellamy House, the dining room was empty of guests, but the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Celeste stood near the bar, flanked by two high-priced defense lawyers in expensive gray suits.
"Uncle Adrian!" Celeste yelled the moment we walked in. "This is a complete outrage! Your security guards have been holding us here against our will. I will have this restaurant shut down by tomorrow morning!"
"You won't be shutting anything down, Celeste," Adrian said, his voice cold and echoing through the empty room. "Because as of five minutes ago, I have formally transferred 100% of the ownership of Bellamy House to my daughter, Evelyn Vale."
Celeste's face went completely blank. "Your... your what?"
I stepped forward, no longer wearing the stained waitress apron. I had changed into a simple, elegant dark blue dress that Adrian's assistant had brought to the clinic. The crescent birthmark over my heart was visible, a quiet, powerful symbol of my true identity.
"My name is Evelyn Vale, Celeste," I said, my voice calm and steady. "And you are standing in my restaurant."
One of Celeste’s lawyers stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Mr. Vale, this is highly irregular. A sudden claim of parentage cannot—"
"The DNA results have already been filed with the state registry," Adrian interrupted, handing a folder to the lawyer. "And the forensic audit of your client's accounts is currently being reviewed by the District Attorney's office."
Celeste stared at the folder, her hands shaking. "No... no, this is a lie. Uncle Adrian, you can't believe this trash! She’s a street rat! She’s been scrubbing floors her whole life!"
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"And while I was scrubbing those floors, Celeste, I was learning how to build things," I said, stepping closer to her. "I know every code, every ledger, and every dirty secret of this business. You thought my silence was weakness, but it was just patience. Your credit cards are frozen, your luxury allowances have been terminated, and your keys to this building are officially revoked."
"Get out of my restaurant," I said coldly.
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