Chapter 6 - Bloodlines and BlueprintsMasonâs eyes locked onto the adult handwriting hidden at the bottom of the childâs drawing. He recognized the sharp, aggressive slant of those numbers instantly. It was written in fountain pen inkâthe exact brand of ink used exclusively by Celesteâs personal financial advisor, Julian Vance.

âMason! What are you staring at?â Celeste shrieked, struggling against the guards near the door. âAre you seriously letting a maidâs trash distract you while I am being held against my will?â
Mason didn't answer her. He folded the paper carefully, slid it into his breast pocket, and walked slowly toward Celeste. With every step he took, the temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees.
âJulian Vance,â Mason said smoothly, his voice echoing in the silent hall. âYour personal wealth manager, Celeste. Coincidentally, the man who handled the liquidation of your familyâs estate last year before they mysteriously went bankrupt.â
Celesteâs eyes widened in sheer terror. âWhat... what are you talking about? Julian has nothing to do with this!â
âThen why does his handwriting appear on a document found in the possession of the woman you desperately tried to frame?â Mason asked, pulling the paper halfway out of his pocket. âA document detailing the blueprint of my family's hidden archive roomâthe very room where my grandfatherâs true will is stored.â
The crowd gasped louder this time. This was no longer a petty theft accusation at a Christmas party. This was a high-stakes conspiracy to commit corporate and familial fraud.
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Celeste lunged forward, her mask completely shattered. âYou canât prove anything! The police will never believe a word of a billionaire protecting his hired help!â
âThe police wonât need to,â a deep, authoritative voice boomed from the foyer entrance. âBecause weâve already intercepted Mr. Vance trying to flee through the back gates with three million dollars in bearer bonds.â