CHAPTER 4 – The Bride Became the Prisoner
CHAPTER 4 – The Bride Became the Prisoner
Panic spread across Celeste's face.
For three years she had manipulated everyone around her.
She had cried on command.
Smiled on command.
Played the perfect fiancée.
Now every mask had shattered in less than three minutes.
She looked desperately toward the servants.
"You all know she's unstable!"
No one answered.
She pointed at Mara.
"She poisoned Eleanor against me!"
Still silence.
Then something unexpected happened.
The oldest housekeeper stepped forward.
Her name was Mrs. Alvarez.
She had served the Ashford family for thirty-one years.
With trembling hands, she bowed her head toward Dominic.
"Sir..."
He nodded once.
"Speak."
Tears filled the old woman's eyes.
"We were afraid."
Dominic said nothing.
Mrs. Alvarez continued.
"Miss Whitmore ordered us never to speak to your mother alone."
Another servant stepped forward.
"If we stayed in Mrs. Ashford's room longer than five minutes, she reduced our wages."
A third maid began crying.
"She threw away Mrs. Ashford's letters before you could read them."
Victor's expression darkened.
"A fourth?"
The elderly butler removed a folded envelope from inside his jacket.
"I couldn't bear to destroy this one."
He handed it to Dominic.
The envelope was addressed in Eleanor's shaky handwriting.
To My Son.
The seal had never been opened.
Dominic stared at it for several seconds.
"When was this written?"
"Three weeks ago, sir."
He slowly unfolded the paper.
The handwriting wavered across the page.
Dominic, if this reaches you, it means someone kind disobeyed Miss Whitmore. I don't know why she wants to keep us apart. She tells me you're too busy to visit, but I hear your voice outside my door sometimes. If I've done something wrong, forgive me. I only want to see my son.
Dominic closed his eyes.
For the first time in many years, the man feared by crime syndicates across three states felt something he had not allowed himself since childhood.
Guilt.
He had fought enemies across continents.
Yet inside his own home...
His mother had been imprisoned.
A sharp laugh broke the silence.
Celeste.
She had stopped pretending.
"So that's it?"
She clapped slowly.
"The great Dominic Ashford finally realizes he isn't as smart as everyone thinks."
Victor took a step forward.
"Careful."
She ignored him.
"You think this changes anything?"
Her smile returned.
"You can't touch me."
Dominic looked at her.
"Why not?"
"My father."
The confidence returned to her voice.
"He knows judges."
"My uncle controls half the city's political donations."
"My family has friends everywhere."
She laughed.
"If you arrest me, tomorrow every newspaper will call you an abusive mafia boss who framed his innocent fiancée."
Victor glanced toward Dominic.
It was a valid threat.
Public opinion mattered.
Business mattered.
Appearances mattered.
Dominic remained calm.
"You've mistaken me for someone else."
Celeste frowned.
"I'm not protecting my reputation today."
He reached into his pocket.
Not for a weapon.
For the velvet ring box.
He opened it.
The diamond glittered under the chandelier.
Without a word...
He placed the engagement ring on a nearby silver tray.
The soft metallic sound echoed through the hall.
"Our engagement is over."
Celeste's smile vanished.
"You don't mean that."
"I do."
"You'll regret it."
"No."
His eyes met hers.
"You will."
Victor's phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
Then looked up.
"Boss."
"What is it?"
"We found Dr. Collins."
"And?"
Victor's face became grim.
"He wasn't on vacation."
A pause.
"He was found dead this morning."
The hallway fell into stunned silence.
Then Victor spoke the sentence that changed everything.
"The medical examiner believes it was murder... made to look like a suicide."
Dominic's gaze returned to Celeste.
For the first time...
He wasn't looking at a deceitful fiancée.
He was looking at the prime suspect in a conspiracy far larger than anyone had imagined.
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And somewhere outside the gates of Ashford Hall...
The real mastermind, who had just eliminated the first witness, was already preparing the next move.
