Chapter 5 - The Dinner That Became a Trial
Friday night brought eighty guests to the Hardwick estate.
Garrett refused to cancel the pre-wedding dinner.
Laura understood why.
Whoever was behind Project Lantern expected the evening to proceed normally.
So Garrett gave them normal.
Crystal chandeliers burned above politicians, financiers, lawyers and men whose legitimate business cards concealed less legitimate occupations.
Celeste descended the staircase in black sequins.
She looked untouchable.
Laura carried champagne.
Their eyes met once.
Celeste smiled.
Laura didn't.
At nine seventeen, Emily approached Laura.
“Miss Beckett.”
Something in the girl’s voice made Laura turn.
Emily was pale.
“What?”
“I saw Miss Vane in the pantry.”
“And?”
“She put something in Mr. Hardwick’s glass.”
Laura moved immediately.
Across the ballroom, a server was already approaching Garrett.
Laura crossed the floor.
Too far.
Garrett reached for the champagne.
Laura slapped the glass from his hand.
It shattered.
Conversation stopped.
Celeste turned.
Garrett looked at Laura.
“Don't drink anything.”
His expression changed instantly.
Security moved.
Celeste laughed.
“Has the maid lost her mind?”
Laura ignored her.
“Emily saw her put something in your glass.”
Every face turned toward Celeste.
Emily froze.
Celeste's smile vanished.
“That child is lying.”
Garrett looked toward Emily.
“Did you see it?”
Emily trembled.
Then Laura stepped beside her.
That was enough.
“Yes,” Emily whispered.
Celeste crossed the room.
“You ungrateful little—”
Garrett stepped between them.
“Finish that sentence.”
Celeste stopped.
The entire room watched.
Malcolm collected the broken glass.
Then Celeste did something nobody expected.
She laughed.
“You actually believe them?”
Garrett said nothing.
“Two servants?”
Still nothing.
“Over me?”
She pointed at Laura.
“You've known this woman four days.”
Garrett's voice was quiet.
“And in four days she has lied to me fewer times than you have in two years.”
Gasps moved through the room.
Celeste went white.
“You bastard.”
She slapped him.
Garrett did not react.
Laura did.
Not physically.
Not yet.
Celeste turned toward her.
“This is you.”
“No,” Laura said. “This is you.”
Celeste crossed the distance.
“You came into my house—”
“His house.”
Celeste's eyes widened.
Several guests looked away.
“You think you're clever?”
“No.”
“You think because he looks at you—”
“Celeste.”
Garrett’s warning came too late.
Celeste grabbed Laura’s apron.
“You filthy little servant.”
Laura removed her hand.
Celeste grabbed again.
Then she struck Emily.
The sound cracked through the ballroom.
Emily stumbled.
Laura moved.
One punch.
Clean.
Controlled.
Celeste hit the marble floor.
Nobody breathed.
The image that would be repeated in whispers for years was not Celeste falling.
It was what happened afterward.
Laura stood frozen, fist still clenched.
Garrett remained in the ballroom doorway.
He had arrived there after checking Emily.
And he did nothing to stop Laura.
Celeste slowly pushed herself upright.
Blood touched the corner of her mouth.
“You hit me.”
Laura’s chest rose and fell.
“You hit a child.”
Celeste stared at Garrett.
“Do something!”
He did.
He walked to Emily.
“Are you hurt?”
Emily touched her cheek.
“No, sir.”
Then Garrett faced Celeste.
“Get out.”
She laughed in disbelief.
“This is our wedding weekend.”
“There is no wedding.”
The room erupted in whispers.
Celeste's face collapsed.
“You don't mean that.”
“I do.”
“You humiliate me for her?”
“No.”
Garrett glanced at Laura.
“I'm ending this because of you.”
Celeste's grief disappeared.
Something colder replaced it.
“You have no idea what you've done.”
Garrett stepped closer.
“I think I'm beginning to.”
Malcolm entered carrying a small evidence bag.
“Boss.”
Inside was residue collected from the shattered glass.
“Preliminary test is positive.”
“For what?” Garrett asked.
“Aconitine.”
The room went dead silent.
Celeste backed away.
Garrett looked at her.
“You tried to poison me?”
“No.”
For the first time, she sounded genuinely terrified.
“No. I didn't.”
Emily spoke.
“I saw you.”
“I put something in his glass, yes.”
Celeste’s breathing became ragged.
“But it wasn't poison.”
Garrett's eyes narrowed.
“What was it?”
Celeste looked toward the crowd.
Then toward the balcony.
Her face changed.
“Garrett—”
A red dot appeared on her chest.
Laura saw it first.
“DOWN!”
She slammed into Celeste.
A gunshot shattered the chandelier.
Guests screamed.
Garrett dragged Laura behind a marble pillar.
Security rushed the balcony.
Celeste lay beside the overturned table.
Laura crawled toward her.
Celeste grabbed her wrist.
“They killed Daniel.”
Laura stopped breathing.
Celeste's fingers tightened.
“And if Garrett finds the last ledger…”
Another shot cracked overhead.
May you like
Celeste whispered the final words.
“They'll kill him too.”
