Celeste’s Second Plan
Chapter 11 - Celeste’s Second Plan
Celeste had prepared an educational guardianship petition naming herself as Oliver’s temporary legal supervisor after the marriage. She obtained letters from a private consultant describing Oliver as emotionally unstable, dependent, and disruptive.
The consultant had never met him.
Celeste also drafted a recommendation that Grace be barred from contacting Oliver because of “attachment interference.”
Her plan was precise.
Marry Adrian.
Send Oliver to Switzerland.
Remove Grace permanently.
Use delegated trust powers to influence the Hart Meridian merger.
Adrian read the documents in his office at dawn.
Grace sat across from him. She had changed into borrowed clothes, but the cut on her hand remained bandaged.
“Why did you keep trying to reach me?” he asked.
“Because Oliver believed you would come if you knew.”
Adrian looked down.
“And did you?”
Grace took time before answering.
“I believed you loved him. I did not know whether love was stronger than convenience.”
The words stayed with Adrian.
She had not created his distance.
She used it.
Adrian closed the petition.
“I cannot undo six months.”
“No.”
“But I can stop building the conditions that made it possible.”
Grace studied him.
“That will require more than firing Celeste.”
May you like
“I know.”
For the first time, he did.
