Chapter 48
The entire Duncan family had gathered in the grand hall. When Celeste entered, a dozen pairs of resentful eyes turned on her, and a low tide of muttering swept
through the room.
“Knew it–she’s nothing but bad luck. That chapel’s been standing for over a century, and now look, burned to a crisp for the first time.”
“It’s a disgrace to the family. Why did we ever take in that woman and her daughter? They’ve brought nothing but trouble to the Duncans.”
Celeste walked straight–backed through the sea of accusations, stopping before Herbert.
He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes sharp and cold as ice, fixed on her.
“Well? Was it you who set the fire? If it wasn’t, then maybe it’s a sign from God himself–he couldn’t bear to see your mother’s memorial brought into the chapel, so he sent down a disaster!”
Celeste met his gaze, calm and steady. “I didn’t set the fire. Someone else did.”
She glanced over to the corner where Amanda stood lurking.
Amanda’s lips curled into a mocking smile, her eyes full of challenge.
At that, one of Amanda’s close relatives stepped forward, self–assured and righteous. “Who else could it be? You were the only one in the chapel. Either you did it, or it’s God’s will. Don’t try to talk your way out of this. We already had someone look into it–your mother’s memorial is a bad omen. The day it entered the chapel, disaster struck!”
He jabbed a finger at Celeste, voice rising. “The Duncan Memorial Chapel is ruined, all thanks to you and your mother!”
Herbert nodded in agreement. “Exactly. The whole family has discussed this. It’s your stubbornness that brought this about, so you’ll be the one paying for tho repairs–all two million dollars.”
Two million dollars wasn’t a trivial sum.
Celeste could afford it, but she saw no reason to be played for a fool.
Amanda had set the fire.
Why should she pay?
Celeste’s eyes bored into Amanda, her tone icy. “If I didn’t start the fire, why should foot the bill?”
“And whose idea was it to ask for two million? Funny how that just happens to match the amount of my dowry. Seems to me someone’s using the fire as an excuse to claw back what I brought into this family.”
She let her gaze linger on Amanda, full of meaning.
Others in the room followed her eyes, some faces dawning with realization.
Celeste’s mother had died young, and Amanda, her stepmother, had personally arranged her marriage to Alfred. Amanda knew exactly how much Celeste’s dowry was. The sum the elders demanded–two million–had Amanda’s fingerprints all
over it.
The Duncans weren’t fools. Someone muttered under their breath, “What a coincidence. Two million, not a cent more or less–must be fate, huh?”
Amanda, suddenly the focus of attention, stiffened. She hurried from the shadows into the center of the hall, clinging to Herbert’s arm in a show of wounded innocence.
“That money would go to restore the chapel–what does it matter if it matches her dowry?” she sniffed. “Besides, Herbert, Celeste is still young, and she’s already lost the company a fortune. I doubt she even has two million on hand. Tell you what… I’ll get a million from the Lawrences myself, just to help make up the difference for Celeste.”
As she spoke, Amanda let two perfect tears slip down her cheeks. “After all, I am her stepmother. It’s my duty to help.”
Herbert was quick to draw her into a comforting embrace. “Amanda, you’re too good–unlike my ungrateful daughter. She’s run the company into the ground, cost this family a fortune, and now you, her stepmother, have to beg your own family for help. She’s a traitor, through and through!”
A few others chimed in, eager to pile on. “Look at that–her stepmother’s willing to pitch in, but she won’t hand over a dime. Selfish, if you ask me.”
Celeste just laughed, the sound sharp and cold. “If my dear stepmother is so generous, why not pay the whole sum yourself?”
“What-?”
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Chapter 48
Celeste caught Amanda’s look of shock and pressed on. “My mother was Alfred’s mother too. Since you’re so eager to help, why not pay the full two million? Think of the other million as a contribution from the Hopkins family. When Alfred comes home, you’ll have earned yourself a little extra goodwill, don’t you think?”
