Chapter 18 - The Setup
Vincent had believed he met Celeste at a charity dinner six months after Grace died.
She had been seated beside him by chance.
She had known how to speak about grief without sounding rehearsed.
Now he learned why.
Grant had arranged everything.
The guest list.
The table assignment.
Even the story Celeste told about losing her father.
Emails in Grant’s archive described Vincent as “isolated,” “guilty,” and “easy to guide if approached through sympathy.”
Vincent read them once.
Then closed the file.
He had spent months hating himself for not seeing Celeste clearly.
Now he understood the difference between being deceived and choosing the deception.
He still owned the mistakes he made afterward.
Especially the biggest one.
He had been absent too often.
That evening, he sat with Mia beside Grace’s blue glass bird.
“Can I tell you something?”
Mia nodded.
“I should have noticed you were scared.”
“You were working.”
“I was.”
She said it like an excuse for him.
Vincent would not take it.
“Work can explain where I was. It doesn’t erase what you needed.”
Mia traced the edge of the glass bird.
“Are you going away again?”
“Yes. Sometimes.”
Her face fell.
“But never without you knowing when I’m coming back. And never without making sure you feel safe.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
She held out her pinky.
He hooked his around hers.
The next morning, prosecutors called.
Grant had rejected a plea deal.
He wanted trial.
Celeste had accepted one.
Daniel had agreed to testify.
Vincent expected relief.
Instead, he felt tired.
Then Mia came running from Grace’s room.
“Daddy!”
He stood.
She carried a small folded note.
“I found this behind Mommy’s picture.”
Vincent opened it.
Grace’s handwriting filled one line.
HOME IS THE PLACE WHERE MIA NEVER HAS TO BE AFRAID.
Vincent read it twice.
May you like
Then looked around the penthouse.
For the first time, he knew exactly what still needed to change.
