part 8
PART 8
Celeste stood so suddenly her chair nearly tipped.
Her face was wet now.
Not delicately.
Not beautifully.
Really.
“Did you know?” she asked Roland.
He looked at her.
“Sit down.”
“No.”
The word surprised all of us.
Especially her.
She turned to Vivian.
“Did you know the house was Seraphina’s?”
Vivian looked away.
Celeste’s face crumpled.
“Mom.”
Vivian whispered, “We knew the transfer happened.”
“When?”
Silence.
Celeste stepped back from the table.
“When?”
Vivian broke.
“Two years ago.”
Celeste’s hand flew to her mouth.
“You let me plan my wedding here.”
Roland snapped, “You wanted a garden ceremony.”
“I wanted a family home ceremony.”
Her voice shook.
“You let me tell everyone this was my inheritance.”
Roland scoffed.
“It should have been.”
I almost admired his consistency.
Even exposed, he still believed wanting something made him robbed.
Celeste looked at him like she was seeing him for the first time.
“You told me Seraphina was selfish.”
“She is.”
“No.”
Celeste looked at the folder.
“At least not the way you said.”
Vivian reached for her.
“Celeste, sweetheart—”
Celeste pulled away.
“Don’t.”
That one word landed heavily.
Vivian’s face collapsed.
Celeste turned to me.
For once, there was no smirk.
No princess posture.
No practiced helplessness.
“Did my wedding planner contact you?”
“Yes.”
“Did the venue?”
“Yes.”
“The dress shop?”
“Yes.”
She closed her eyes.
“Because of me.”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t know you were paying for everything before.”
I held her gaze.
“You didn’t ask.”
She nodded slowly.
That was new too.
No defense.
No tears used as a shield.
Just the beginning of accountability.
Roland saw the room shifting and tried to seize it back.
“Celeste, your sister is manipulating you with old papers.”
Celeste turned on him.
“You used her money.”
“I used family money.”
“It was hers.”
“Everything in this family belongs to the family.”
“No,” I said.
“It belonged to the person whose name was on the account.”
Roland slammed his hand down again.
This time, no one flinched.
That made him look smaller.
He realized it too.
His power had always depended on our bodies reacting before our minds did.
Tonight, our bodies were tired of obeying.
Thomas cleared his throat.
“There is another matter.”
Roland looked furious.
“What now?”
Thomas opened his briefcase again.
I had not expected that.
He looked at me.
“Seraphina, you authorized me to bring the vendor affidavits if necessary.”
Celeste’s face paled.
“Affidavits?”
Thomas placed several pages on the table.
“Statements from the venue coordinator, florist, and bridal salon.”
“They confirm Roland Vale represented Seraphina as the financial guarantor without her consent.”
Vivian whispered, “Roland.”
Celeste stepped back as if the words had physically pushed her.
“That’s fraud.”
Thomas did not soften it.
“Yes.”
Roland stared at the papers.
Then at me.
For the first time, he looked less angry than afraid.
Not of losing the house.
Not of disappointing his daughter.
May you like
Of being named.
Read PART 9 👉 Roland’s forged promises to the wedding vendors are exposed, and now Seraphina must decide whether to press charges or offer one final impossible condition.
