Chapter 2 - THE GREENHOUSE
Emiliano carried Grace out of the ballroom while two hundred guests stared after them.
Behind him, Celeste shouted, “That is not what I said!”
He didn’t turn around.
In the private family suite, Grace sat on a couch while Mateo brought ice wrapped in a towel. Emiliano crouched in front of her.
“Sweetheart, I need you to tell me exactly what Celeste said about Mommy.”
Grace looked frightened. “Am I in trouble?”
“No. Never for telling me the truth.”
She twisted the rabbit charm on her bracelet. “Last week I was in the greenhouse. Miss Celeste was talking to Uncle Adrian.”
Celeste’s older brother.
“What did they say?”
Grace swallowed. “He said, ‘The first wife became a problem.’ Then she said, ‘Don’t talk about Isabella here.’”
Emiliano felt the air leave his lungs.
Isabella. Grace’s mother. His wife, dead for three years after her car plunged through a guardrail on a rain-slick road.
“What else?”
Grace’s eyes filled. “Mr. Adrian said, ‘Same road, same problem.’ Celeste told him to shut up.”
Mateo stopped moving.
Emiliano stood. “Lock the gates.”
Mateo was already reaching for his radio.
A knock hit the door. Celeste entered without waiting.
Her veil was gone. So was the soft expression she had worn all morning.
“You’re frightening Grace,” she said.
“You slapped her in front of two hundred people.”
“She ruined my dress.”
Emiliano stared at her.
Celeste realized what she had said and changed direction. “I lost my temper. I’m sorry. But that instruction sheet is fake.”
“Grace heard you talking about Isabella.”
For the first time, Celeste looked genuinely scared.
“What did she tell you?”
Enough, Emiliano thought.
He stepped toward her. “Where is Adrian?”
“I don’t know.”
Mateo’s radio crackled.
“South gate to Mateo. Adrian Whitmore’s car just breached the exit arm. He’s leaving the property.”
Emiliano looked at Celeste.
She whispered, “You need to let him go.”
“Why?”
May you like
Her next words came barely above a breath.
“Because if Adrian thinks you know about Isabella, Grace is no longer safe.”
