“You serve the wine. You don’t address him.” Celeste Laurent said it loudly enough for every guest at the engagement dinner to hear

By dawn, the rumors had already leaked to the financial press. VALE HEIR DISCOVERED IN THE KITCHEN. ENGAGEMENT SHATTERED, MERGER IN PERIL. Elena sat at the edge of the velvet armchair, staring out the window at the sprawling Blackthorne gardens. A soft knock broke her concentration. It was Mrs. Hughes, the head housekeeper, holding a tray of tea. For the first time in twelve years, Mrs. Hughes bowed her head to Elena. “Good morning, Miss Vale,” the older woman said, her voice trembling slightly. It felt wrong. It felt surreal. But Elena knew she had to adapt, or the predators in this house would tear her apart. Later that morning, a team of tailors and stylists arrived, hired by Mr. Sterling. If she was to attend the emergency board meeting on Friday, she could not look like a rogue servant. She had to look like a weapon. As she was fitted for a sharp, charcoal-gray designer suit, Adrian walked into the suite. He looked exhausted, the shadows under his eyes speaking of a sleepless night spent arguing with his mother. He dismissed the tailors with a wave of his hand. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Adrian asked, leaning against the doorframe. “I didn’t know until yesterday,” Elena answered honestly. “I was dusting the west wing. I dropped a heavy vase. It dented the floorboard, revealing a hidden compartment beneath the rug.” Adrian shook his head in disbelief. “Twelve years, Elena. We played in the gardens when we were kids before Mother forbade it.” “She told you I was diseased,” Elena reminded him without malice, only fact. Adrian closed his eyes. “I want to help you. But Celeste’s father is threatening to launch a hostile takeover if we don’t finalize the marriage and the share transfer.” Elena looked at her half-brother in the mirror. She saw no deception in him. Only a man trapped by his mother's ambition. “Then we find out what else your mother is hiding,” Elena said. She handed Adrian the financial ledger Mr. Sterling had given her. “Look at the date of our father's accident. Look at where the money went.”