Chapter 6 - Unmasking the Operative"‘She doesn’t belong in a house like this,’" Grant quoted, repeating her exact cadence, his voice devoid of mercy.
The silence in the ballroom was absolute. You could hear the distant hum of the ventilation system. Several prominent board members exchanged uneasy glances; the reporters in the back were typing furiously on their phones, transmitting live updates to news desks across the city.
"Grant, you're taking it out of context," Celeste stammered, her voice rising in defensive panic as she tried to salvage her crumbling facade. "The child was handling an expensive antique! As a homeowner, as your partner, I was just—protecting our property! Is that a crime?"
"Protecting property," Grant repeated, a bitter, humourless smile touching his lips. "That’s what you called it. Just like you called your presence in my life a 'romance'."
He turned to Sarah Lin, who stepped out from the side gallery holding a thick leather-bound folio.
"Sarah, tell our guests about Aegis Holdings," Grant instructed.
Sarah stepped up to a spare microphone, her voice crisp and professional. "Aegis Holdings is a corporate conglomerate currently attempting a hostile takeover of Northstar Freight Systems. Fourteen months ago, internal communications seized under a court-ordered subpoena reveal that Aegis executives financed, planned, and executed a targeted infiltration of Mr. Mercer's personal life."
A collective murmur erupted through the crowd. Cameras flashed blindingly, capturing every micro-expression of absolute terror on Celeste’s face.
"The operative assigned to this mission," Sarah continued, her eyes fixed on Celeste, "went by the alias Celeste Rowan. Her real name is Celeste Vance—ironically, no relation to Evelyn—and she is a trained corporate intelligence asset specializing in social engineering and asset diversion."
Celeste stepped backward, her heel catching slightly on her heavy gown. "Lies! All of it is lies! He's unhinged—he's manufacturing a scandal because he doesn't want to honor our wedding agreement!"
"Is it a lie?" Grant asked softly, stepping closer to her.
He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a small, metallic flash drive, holding it up for the room to see.
"This drive contains every wire transfer routed from Aegis accounts into your Swiss bank accounts, Celeste. It contains the transcripts of your handlers instructing you on how to manipulate my insecurities, how to appeal to my working-class background, and how to secure joint legal proxy over my estate before the wedding."
He paused, his eyes narrowing.
"You studied me for months. You memorized my favorite books, my mother's recipes, the names of my childhood pets. You played your part to absolute perfection."
May you like
Grant turned his head toward Elena and little Maisie.
"But you made one fatal mistake," Grant said, his voice ringing with quiet fury. "You forgot that cruelty leaves a permanent mark. You believed that because no one important was watching, you could show your true face to a three-year-old child."
