Chapter 8 - A Dinner Full of Knives

By noon, photos of the clinic visit had turned into a public scandal.

Julian read the story once, then closed his laptop.

"They want me angry," he said. "They want me to react in public and make it look like she's manipulating me."

"So don't react," Elara said. "That's what I did for six years. It didn't make them stop."

Renee moved Maisie to Mrs. Alvarez's house. Julian wanted to send Elara and Maisie out of state, but Elara refused to disappear again.

"Every time I run, they get to write the story," she said. "I'm done letting them write it."

That evening, Julian decided to attend the Vale Foundation's donor dinner. Renee called it a terrible idea; Elara called it predictable.

"Your mother will expect you alone," Elara said. "Give her a reason to talk instead."

Elara entered through the catering corridor in a borrowed black dress, carrying a folder disguised as a menu. Julian spotted her across the ballroom and nearly lost his place in his speech.

Lydia sat beneath a chandelier with Graham and Celeste beside her, surrounded by donors.

When Julian approached the table, Lydia touched his sleeve.

"You have embarrassed this family enough. Tell me the woman is gone."

"No."

"Then you are choosing her over everything your father built."

"I'm choosing the truth over what you built on top of it."

Graham stepped in. "The board is concerned that your interest in an alleged criminal and her child is damaging the foundation."

Elara appeared beside them. "Then let us discuss the seven payments to a shell company called Northlight Consulting."

"I don't know what you're referring to."

"You will. The first payment cleared the day my name was added to the theft report. The last one cleared two days after you told me Julian wanted me gone."

Lydia rose. "Security. Remove her."

Nobody moved. Julian had replaced his security chief with a man Renee trusted.

Celeste leaned close to Julian. "You should listen to your mother. This woman will destroy you."

Elara met her eyes. "Maybe. But I won't ask a child to pay for my silence."

"Don't let them see the second ledger," she whispered. "Graham knows where it is."

May you like

Billionaire’s Wife Kicked a Waitress in Front of 300 Elites—One Slap Exp...

The billionaire’s wife tried to kick a waitress in the face in front of 300 wealthy guests. But seconds later, she whispered three...

My Mother Grabbed My Wife by the Hair Over Cold Soup—But What My Father...

My mother grabbed my wife by the hair over a bowl of cold soup. And the most shameful part? For one terrible second, I almost defe...

My Parents Kicked My 6-Year-Old Daughter and Me Out on Christmas—Then I...

My mother kicked my six-year-old daughter out of Christmas dinner, never realizing I was the only reason she still had a house to...

Then she stood, lifted her champagne glass, and announced to the room that Julian Vale had been hiding a child from the foundation's trustees.

Julian stared at Celeste. She had betrayed him in public, yet her eyes begged him to understand.