Chapter 10: The Queen Who Owned the Crown
I couldn't move.
Rain tapped against the cemetery stones.
Daniel stood beside me, his expression hard.
Evelyn looked as though she wanted to disappear.
And Thomas Bellamy was smiling.
"You're lying," I said.
Thomas tilted his head.
"Am I?""
I looked at Evelyn.
"Tell me he's lying.""
She lowered her eyes.
"Camille...""
"No. Look at me.""
She finally did.
And I saw the answer before she spoke.
"Your biological mother was Margaret Hale," Evelyn whispered.
I stepped backward.
"No.""
"Robert knew when you were very young. He adopted you legally and raised you as his daughter.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
"Because Margaret was in danger. She had discovered the financial scheme Vanessa and Thomas were running. Robert believed keeping you with him was the only way to protect you.""
I looked at Thomas.
"And Vanessa?""
He shrugged.
"Vanessa married Robert knowing he had a child. She agreed to keep the arrangement private.""
"Why?""
"Money. Power. The usual things.""
I shook my head.
"You expect me to believe all of this?""
Thomas removed another document.
"DNA records. Adoption papers. Hospital records. Your father kept everything.""
I looked at Daniel.
He took the papers.
"We'll verify these.""
Thomas smiled.
"Of course. But there's no reason to delay the truth.""
I felt sick.
My entire childhood had suddenly become a question.
The woman who had raised me had hated me.
The man who had loved me wasn't my biological father.
And the woman I had believed was a criminal might actually be my mother.
I turned toward Evelyn.
"Where is Margaret?""
Evelyn swallowed.
"She's alive.""
I closed my eyes.
"Where?""
Thomas answered.
"She works at a private clinic in Boston.""
I stared at him.
"You know where she is?""
"Of course.""
"Then why hasn't she contacted me?""
His smile faded.
"Because she believes Vanessa will destroy anyone who gets close to you.""
I looked at him.
"And you?""
He smiled again.
"I'm here to help.""
I almost laughed.
"You're here because you want something.""
For the first time, his expression changed.
"Your father left something that belongs to me.""
I understood.
"The archive.""
He nodded.
"Exactly.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Mr. Bellamy, you need to leave.""
Thomas looked at him.
"You're making a mistake, counselor.""
Then he turned to me.
"Think carefully, Camille. If you reveal the archive, your father's reputation will be destroyed. Everyone will learn that he knowingly participated in the original transfers.""
I stared at him.
"You're threatening me?""
"I'm offering you a choice.""
He placed a card on the stone bench.
"Bring the archive to me before Halloween night. In exchange, I'll tell you where Margaret is.""
I looked at the card.
Then at him.
"Get away from my father's grave.""
His smile disappeared.
"You're making this difficult.""
"No. You made it difficult when you decided to threaten his daughter.""
Thomas turned.
Before leaving, he looked back.
"One more thing. Vanessa knows about the archive. And she knows about Margaret.""
Then he walked toward the black SUV.
I watched him disappear.
Only when the vehicle had left did I realize I was shaking.
Daniel put a hand on my shoulder.
"Let's get you somewhere safe.""
I looked down at my father's grave.
"I need to finish what he started.""
By noon, the news had spread through the foundation.
Richard Lawson and Victor Grant were both missing.
The Bellamy sponsorship application had been suspended.
And the Harrington Foundation was demanding an emergency meeting.
I sat in my office while Daniel examined the original documents.
Evelyn was speaking with an investigator.
Elena entered carrying a tablet.
"Camille, the press is asking questions.""
"About what?""
"Someone leaked information about your family's ownership dispute.""
I sighed.
"Who?""
"An anonymous source. They're claiming the Midnight Masquerade is at risk of cancellation because of a family conflict.""
I looked at the tablet.
A headline appeared.
*EXCLUSIVE: MYSTERY GALA CREATIVE DIRECTOR ACCUSED OF FAMILY FRAUD.*
Below it was a photograph of me entering the Bellamy estate.
My stomach tightened.
"They're trying to make me look unstable.""
Elena nodded.
"There's more.""
She opened another article.
*BELLAMY HEIRESS CLAIMS CONTROL OF MIDNIGHT MASQUERADE.*
A photograph of Brielle appeared beneath the headline.
She was wearing my butterfly gown.
The caption read:
Brielle Bellamy says she has been selected to represent the exclusive Halloween event.
I stared at the image.
"Who gave them that photograph?""
"Vanessa.""
I stood.
"Call Celeste Harrington.""
Elena dialed.
The call was transferred after two minutes.
"Camille?"" Celeste answered.
"Have you seen the articles?""
"Yes. My father is furious.""
"Good. I need you to listen carefully.""
I explained the forged documents, the unauthorized sponsorship application, and the ownership dispute.
Celeste was silent for a moment.
Then she said, "Why didn't you tell us earlier?""
"Because I was trying to establish the facts before making accusations.""
"Can you prove what you're saying?""
I looked at Daniel.
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"Then my father wants to meet with you immediately.""
"Tomorrow?""
"Tonight.""
I agreed.
After the call, Elena handed me another document.
"There's something else. The board has received a formal complaint.""
"From whom?""
"Vanessa Bellamy.""
I took the paper.
She was demanding that Asteria Creative Group be temporarily removed from the gala's creative management.
Her argument was that the company's ownership was disputed and that its director had a personal conflict of interest.
At the bottom was a request for an emergency vote.
I looked at Daniel.
"Can she do that?""
"She can request a vote. But she has no authority over the foundation.""
"Then what happens?""
"The board decides whether to suspend your creative control pending an investigation.""
I felt a familiar coldness settle in my chest.
"How many votes does she have?""
"She has convinced three members to support her.""
"How many do we need?""
"Four more.""
I looked at Elena.
"Who are the remaining members?""
She opened the board directory.
One name caught my attention.
Celeste Harrington.
The Harrington Foundation controlled two voting seats.
If Celeste's father supported us, Vanessa's plan would fail.
But there was another name.
Margaret Hale.
I looked at Daniel.
"Why is Margaret on this board?""
"She was appointed as an independent financial trustee when your father established the charitable trust.""
I stared.
"Then she can vote.""
"Yes.""
I leaned back.
"Find her.""
Daniel nodded.
"I'll try.""
That evening, I met Celeste and her father in a private conference room.
Mr. Harrington was a tall man with silver hair and a voice that made people listen.
He placed a folder on the table.
"Miss Bennett, I've read everything your attorney sent.""
"Then you know why the sponsorship application was suspended.""
He nodded.
"I also know that my daughter has been receiving messages from Brielle.""
I looked at Celeste.
She lowered her eyes.
"She keeps saying she was promised the fairy queen role.""
"By whom?""
"Vanessa.""
I took a breath.
"Mr. Harrington, I want to make something clear. The gala will proceed as planned. The children who have been waiting for this event deserve better than a corporate dispute.""
He studied me.
"And what happens if the board removes you?""
I looked directly at him.
"They won't.""
He raised an eyebrow.
"Confident.""
"Prepared.""
I opened my folder and showed him the original ownership agreement.
Then I played my father's recorded statement.
When the video ended, Mr. Harrington remained silent.
Finally, he closed the folder.
"I believe you.""
I felt my shoulders relax.
"Thank you.""
"But there's one condition.""
"What?""
"I want to meet Asteria.""
I stared at him.
Celeste smiled.
"He's serious.""
I slowly stood.
"Mr. Harrington, you're looking at her.""
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he rose.
"Well.""
He extended his hand.
"It's an honor.""
I shook it.
He looked at the butterfly emblem on my folder.
"Your work has raised more money for children's hospitals than any event we've supported in twenty years.""
I smiled.
"That's why I built it.""
He nodded.
"You have our votes.""
For the first time that day, I felt hope.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
And slowly sat down.
"What happened?"" Celeste asked.
He ended the call.
"Vanessa Bellamy has just filed an emergency petition claiming that the Midnight Masquerade's opening production was financed with misappropriated Bellamy Holdings funds.""
I looked at Daniel.
He shook his head.
"That's impossible.""
Mr. Harrington opened another document.
"She has submitted bank statements.""
I stared at the figures.
The dates matched.
The amounts matched.
And the account numbers were connected to the original investment records.
Then I noticed the final page.
It contained a declaration signed by Evelyn Cross.
I looked toward Daniel.
"That's not her signature.""
He studied it.
Then his face changed.
"Camille, this is serious.""
"Why?""
He pointed to the final paragraph.
"The declaration claims Evelyn knowingly transferred three million dollars from Bellamy Holdings into Asteria Creative Group without authorization.""
I stared at the page.
They weren't just trying to destroy my reputation.
They were trying to make Evelyn look like the criminal.
And if the court accepted the declaration, every asset connected to the gala could be frozen.
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
*UNKNOWN: Vanessa has Margaret. If you want your mother alive, withdraw the gala and surrender the archive.*
I stood so quickly that my chair fell backward.
Daniel grabbed my arm.
"Camille?""
I showed him the message.
His expression hardened.
"Call the police.""
I looked at the photograph attached to the message.
It showed Margaret sitting in a dark room.
Her hands were tied.
But it wasn't her face that made my blood run cold.
It was the man standing behind her.
Richard Lawson.
And in his hand was a small silver butterfly.
The second key to my father's archive.
I whispered:
"Vanessa has found my mother.""
Then another message arrived.
*YOU HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT.*
I looked at the clock.
May you like
It was 10:47 p.m.
And Halloween was only three days away.
