Chapter 5: Celeste’s Final Betrayal
Chapter 5: Celeste’s Final Betrayal
Celeste Monroe had always believed she was smarter than everyone else.
She believed beauty opened doors.
Charm protected secrets.
And manipulation could solve any problem.
She was wrong.
Three days after Nathan’s downfall, she disappeared.
At least, that was what everyone thought.
But my father’s team found her.
Not hiding.
Negotiating.
With the same people she had betrayed.
The woman who promised Nathan loyalty was already looking for a way to save herself.
When I entered the private meeting room, Celeste was sitting across from my father’s attorney.
Her expression changed immediately.
“You.”
I sat across from her.
“Yes.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You came here to enjoy this?”
“No.”
I looked directly at her.
“I came here because I wanted to understand something.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“How could you do all of this?”
For a moment, her confident mask disappeared.
Then she smiled.
“Because Nathan was weak.”
The answer surprised me.
Not because it was cruel.
Because it was honest.
“He wanted power,” she continued.
“And I gave him a reason to take it.”
“You destroyed my marriage.”
She shrugged.
“You already had a bad marriage.”
I looked at her.
“You helped make it worse.”
Celeste leaned back.
“You know what your problem was?”
I said nothing.
“You thought being a good wife would make a man love you.”
Her words were meant to hurt.
But they didn’t.
Because I already knew the truth.
“My mistake was believing Nathan had a good heart.”
Celeste smiled.
“And now?”
“Now I know better.”
The attorney placed several documents on the table.
Celeste looked at them.
Her expression changed.
“What is this?”
“Evidence,” I said.
“Your cooperation agreement.”
She stared.
“You want me to betray Nathan?”
I almost laughed.
“Celeste, you betrayed Nathan before you ever betrayed me.”
She became silent.
Because she knew.
Nathan was no longer useful to her.
And people like Celeste only stayed loyal to power.
Not people.
“You have two choices,” my father’s attorney said.
“Provide full testimony, or face charges without cooperation.”
Celeste looked at me.
For the first time, there was no arrogance.
Only fear.
“You really planned everything.”
I shook my head.
May you like
“No.”
“I simply stopped ignoring the truth.”
