Chapter 9 - The Mercer Family Dinner
Celeste called a family meeting.
Elena almost refused.
Instead, she attended with Naomi.
Julian’s brother, Marcus, was there.
So were two aunts and Julian’s father.
Celeste tried to frame the scandal as Elena’s revenge.
Then Marcus interrupted.
“Mom, stop.”
Everyone turned.
Marcus placed a folder on the table.
“I found these in Dad’s safe.”
Bank statements.
Contracts.
Emails.
Celeste lunged for them.
Naomi grabbed the folder first.
Celeste shoved Naomi.
Elena stepped between them.
“Back away.”
Celeste slapped Elena.
The room erupted.
Elena caught Celeste’s wrist when she swung again.
Marcus pulled his mother backward.
Celeste screamed at Elena.
“You destroyed my son!”
Elena finally shouted back.
“YOUR SON BROKE MY FINGER BECAUSE I WOULDN’T DELETE PROOF OF HIS CRIME!”
Silence.
Julian’s father stared at Celeste.
“What did you know?”
Celeste’s face changed.
And everyone understood.
Far more than she had admitted.
Marcus quietly said:
“Dad, she helped Julian hide the money.”
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That night, the Mercer family finally stopped blaming Elena.
Because the evidence was sitting on their own dining table.
