Chapter 4 - The Midnight Visitor: Celeste’s Fatal Miscalculation at the Lake Forest Gates
At 4:15 AM, the motion sensors lining the perimeter of Adrian’s Lake Forest estate flashed silent amber warnings across the security monitors in the private study.
Adrian and I were still sitting across from each other reviewing bank ledgers when the console beeped quietly, indicating a vehicle approaching the main iron security gates without authorization.
Adrian tapped a button on his desk, bringing up the live exterior camera feed on the monitor.
A black Mercedes SUV had pulled up directly against the gates, and the rear door opened to reveal Celeste Barone stepping out into the chilly autumn fog, wearing a heavy fur coat and holding a silver-plated revolver in her gloved hand.
Behind her, four armed enforcers from the Barone syndicate stepped out of the vehicle, their faces hidden behind dark ski masks.
“She couldn’t even wait until sunrise to confirm her murder,” Adrian remarked, a cold, humorless smile touching his lips as he reached into the desk drawer and pulled out a suppressed Beretta 9mm pistol, checking the magazine with practiced ease.
“She thinks I’m still upstairs trapped in the bedroom with a dead body,” I said, standing up from my chair. “She came here to tie up loose ends and make sure I took the fall for your assassination.”
Adrian looked up at me, his eyes dark and commanding.
“Stay here in the study, Elena,” he instructed firmly.
“No,” I replied, my voice steady and unyielding. “I spent ten years wearing a silicone mask to survive that family. If my sister wants to finish this game tonight, she’s going to face the real me.”
Adrian studied my face for a moment, saw the fierce determination burning in my emerald-green eyes, and nodded once.
“Very well,” he said, standing up beside me. “Let’s go welcome your sister to our home.”
We walked silently down the grand staircase into the darkened foyer, waiting by the heavy front doors as the sound of muffled pounding echoed against the wood.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
“Open up! It’s Celeste! I know you’re in there!” my sister’s voice hissed through the security intercom by the door.
Adrian reached over and unlocked the heavy deadbolt with a sharp click, pulling the door open just wide enough for the dim porch light to illuminate the dark foyer.
Celeste pushed her way inside aggressively, her silver revolver raised and pointed directly at the doorway, her face twisted in a triumphant, ugly sneer.
“It’s about time!” Celeste snapped, lowering her gun slightly as she expected to see tragedy.
Instead, she stopped dead in her tracks.
Standing in front of her wasn't a weeping, terrified bride standing over a poisoned corpse.
Standing beside Adrian Vitali—who stood tall, strong, and completely uninjured—was me, my face bare of any silicone, my natural features exposed, staring at her with cold, absolute calm.
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Celeste’s jaw dropped so fast her revolver nearly slipped from her gloved fingers.
“E-Elena…?” Celeste stammered, her emerald eyes widening in sheer, paralyzing terror as she looked between Adrian’s standing posture and my unmasked face. “You… you’re supposed to be wearing the mask! And he’s… he’s supposed to be dead!”
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