The Silent Partner Who Rebuilt an Empire from the Ashes of Betrayal
The vibration made a sharp, rattling sound against the metal trim.
I picked it up.
It was another message from Marta.
*She didn’t go to the airport, Evelyn.*
*She drove to the townhouse in Chelsea.*
*Bennett is there.*
I showed the screen to Julian.
“The Chelsea townhouse,” I said. “He kept that property in his cousin’s name.”
“He thinks no one knows about it,” Julian said.
“They are turning on each other,” I said. “Celeste knows the ship is sinking.”
“She went there to get her share before he loses everything,” Julian agreed.
“Priya, can you track Celeste’s phone location to confirm?” I asked.
“I am on it,” Priya said. “Her device just pinged a tower three blocks from the Chelsea High Line.”
“She is definitely there.”
I stood up and walked to the window.
Below, yellow cabs crawled through the Manhattan rain like little beetles.
The city looked vast, but our world had shrunk to a few square miles of betrayal and retribution.
“We need to get there,” I said.
“Evelyn, let the police handle it once the fraud charge is filed,” Julian warned.