Chapter 15 - THE FIRE
Pierce set the archive on fire.
Not the house.
Not the bedrooms.
Only the room holding original trust documents and financial ledgers.
Fire crews contained it quickly.
The paper records did not survive.
Pierce thought that meant he won something.
He did not know Nora had scanned everything.
Police arrested him beside the east gate.
He shouted that the trust belonged to "real Bennetts."
Celeste heard him.
"So did my child," she said.
"He's not a Bennett."
"No. He's Grant."
Grant remembered Thomas's birthday message.
Become the man you choose.
For the first time, the name felt enough.
Pierce was charged with arson, conspiracy, fraud, and custodial interference.
Evelyn remained in custody.
Her lawyers tried to paint her as an elderly woman protecting family assets.
Rachel attended the bail hearing.
The prosecutor played daycare footage.
Evelyn carrying Maddie toward the car.
The baby crying.
The fake passport in the bag.
Bail was denied.
After court, Grant asked Rachel to walk with him.
"I signed the divorce response."
"I saw."
"I won't fight custody."
"I want you to have a relationship with Maddie if you become safe."
"If."
"Yes."
He accepted it.
"I started the intervention program."
"Good."
"I also resigned as CEO."
Rachel blinked.
"What?"
"The board needs someone who isn't spending half his life in court and therapy."
"Who takes over?"
"Independent interim CEO."
Not Pierce.
Not Evelyn.
Not Celeste.
A professional.
"Your mother hates that."
"My mother is Celeste."
Rachel studied him.
He corrected himself.
"Evelyn hates that."
Better.
Then his phone rang.
Dr. Vernon Hale.
"There's another test."
"Please don't say that sentence."
"This one is about Maddie."
Rachel took the phone.
"What about her?"
Vernon said, "The lab found a hereditary cardiac marker."
Rachel's blood went cold.
"Is she sick?"
"No. But the marker tells us something."
"What?"
"It came from Grant."
"And it matches a living paternal relative."
Grant's voice dropped.
May you like
"Who?"
"My daughter."
