Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN BEHIND VIVI
For years, everyone believed Vivi was the architect.
She was not.
She was the daughter who learned from the architect.
Celeste Bellamy had spent thirty years building influence inside hospitals, family courts, adoption agencies, and charitable foundations.
Her public image was flawless.
Privately, she believed children belonged with whoever could give them the most powerful future.
Biology meant nothing.
Consent meant little.
And poor mothers were obstacles.
Detective Sloan uncovered eleven questionable guardianship cases connected to Bellamy-funded organizations.
Elena’s case was only one.
Adrian stared at the files.
“How many children?”
“At least eleven.”
“Maybe more.”
Elena looked horrified.
“She did this before Noah.”
“Yes.”
Sloan placed another file down.
“And after.”
The investigation had transformed.
This was no longer simply about Noah.
It was about a system.
Then the phone rang.
Celeste herself was calling.
Adrian answered.
“Where are you?”
“Still rude when frightened.”
“Stay away from my son.”
“Our grandson.”
“No.”
Celeste laughed.
“You sound like Elena.”
“What do you want?”
“Come to the Bellamy Foundation office.”
“Alone?”
“No.”
Celeste surprised him.
“Bring Elena.”
Elena shook her head.
Adrian put the call on speaker.
“Why?”
“Because there is something she deserves to see.”
“What?”
“The original custody file.”
Elena stepped closer.
“You destroyed it.”
Celeste answered immediately.
“No, darling.”
“I improved it.”
The call ended.
Police prepared the meeting.
Adrian and Elena entered the Bellamy Foundation building at noon.
Celeste waited in her office.
Perfectly dressed.
Perfectly calm.
As though her family were not collapsing around her.
She placed a thick file on the desk.
“Elena Marlowe.”
Inside were signatures.
Psychological evaluations.
Witness statements.
Drug tests.
Every document portrayed Elena as unstable.
Then Elena found something.
A photograph.
Her younger sister, Grace.
Elena froze.
“What is this?”
Celeste smiled.
“Your sister was very cooperative.”
Elena stared at her.
“Grace died five years ago.”
“Yes.”
“Did she know?”
“She knew enough.”
Elena stood.
“What did you do?”
Celeste’s calm expression did not change.
“Nothing.”
“You’re lying.”
“Grace accepted money.”
Elena’s face collapsed.
“For what?”
“To testify that you were unstable.”
Elena stepped backward.
“No.”
Celeste pushed a document across the desk.
Grace Marlowe’s signature appeared at the bottom.
Adrian watched Elena break.
“My own sister?”
“She was sick.”
Celeste said.
“Treatment was expensive.”
Elena’s tears fell.
“You used her illness.”
“I offered her a choice.”
“You bought her.”
“I saved her life for another year.”
Elena slammed both hands on the desk.
“And destroyed mine!”
Celeste finally lost her smile.
“Your life was already difficult.”
“I gave Noah a future.”
“You stole him.”
“I relocated him.”
Adrian had heard enough.
“You’re finished.”
Celeste looked at him.
“You still don’t understand.”
“What?”
“If I’m finished, so are you.”
She slid another document toward him.
A DNA report.
Adrian read it.
His face changed.
The report compared Noah’s DNA to samples from Charles Whitmore.
No biological relationship.
Then another comparison.
Noah and Adrian.
Probability of paternity: 0.00%.
Adrian stared at Elena.
She looked equally shocked.
Celeste leaned back.
“You see the problem?”
Elena shook her head.
“No.”
Adrian could barely speak.
“Noah isn’t mine?”
Celeste smiled.
“That depends on which truth you prefer.”
Elena grabbed the report.
“This is fake.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
“How certain are you?”
Elena looked at Adrian.
“I never…”
She stopped.
Adrian’s chest tightened.
“Never what?”
May you like
Elena whispered.
“There was someone else.”
