Chapter 8 - THE MAID THEY CHOSE AS THE PERFECT SCAPEGOAT.
Dr. Hale admitted scanning employee files but insisted Celeste directed the scheme.
Celeste immediately blamed him.
Their alliance collapsed the moment consequences reached the wealthy.
Rosa’s forged signature was deliberate.
If the transfer were challenged, Celeste planned to accuse her of selling access to the foundation.
Rosa had debt from her husband’s cancer treatment and rented an apartment owned by the Cole company.
To people like Celeste, that made her believable as a criminal.
Adrian looked at Rosa.
“You protected Maya while this family prepared to destroy you.”
Rosa answered sharply.
“Do not make me a saint because you finally see the danger. I warned you about Celeste for two years. You called it household tension.”
He accepted the rebuke.
His privilege had allowed him to treat employee fear as gossip.
Then federal agents entered the mansion.
The guests stepped aside, suddenly eager to appear cooperative.
Celeste whispered to Adrian.
“If you expose this, the foundation collapses. Hundreds of poor students lose everything.”
Maya looked at her.
“You already took their money.”
The agents seized the necklace, files, and custody order.
Dr. Hale was detained.
Celeste’s engagement and foundation authority were suspended.
Then Elena appeared at the doorway, supported by an independent nurse.
She looked at Maya and began to cry.
But before mother and daughter could touch, Elena said:
May you like
“Adrian, Celeste did not order the crash.”
She pointed toward his mother, Margaret Cole, standing among the guests.
