Chapter 3 - The Truth in Garrett Hardwick’s House
Garrett Hardwick’s office was silent after Celeste left.
She had tried to stay.
Garrett had looked at her once and said, “Not now.”
That was all.
But the words had sent her out of the room with a rigid smile and fury burning behind her eyes.
Now Laura stood across from the man whose name made city officials nervous and rival businessmen careful.
Garrett was older than Celeste by at least fifteen years. His hair was dark with silver at the temples. His face was composed, but not soft.
He had the eyes of a man who noticed more than he revealed.
“You have been here four days,” he said.
“Yes.”
“And in four days, you have managed to create a crisis.”
Laura did not react.
“Or uncover one.”
Garrett leaned back in his chair.
“Tell me what you mean.”
Laura looked at the closed office door.
“Are you asking because you want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“Or because someone finally embarrassed you by showing you what your fiancée does when you are away?”
His gaze sharpened.
Laura continued.
“I need to know before I say another word.”
For a long moment, Garrett said nothing.
Then he spoke quietly.
“My father built this estate on fear. I spent years trying to remove it from my life.”
Laura looked around the office.
The room was elegant. Bookshelves. Old portraits. A fireplace. A locked cabinet behind the desk.
“But fear is still here,” she said.
“Yes.”
“And your fiancée is using it.”
Garrett’s jaw tightened.
“I suspected she had become difficult with staff.”
“Difficult?”
Laura repeated the word without raising her voice.
“She slapped the cook last month. She forced Percy to apologize for a schedule he followed. She cut Nina’s hours after humiliating her. She made Bess believe she would lose her job if she spoke.”
Garrett looked away.
“How do you know about the cook?”
“The cook told me.”
“He never said anything to me.”
“Because he was afraid.”
Garrett was quiet.
Laura reached into her apron pocket and removed a small notebook.
She placed it on the desk.
“I wrote down dates. Names. Witnesses. Things I saw. Things people told me after they understood I would not repeat them to Celeste.”
Garrett opened the notebook.
The first page listed incidents.
The cook’s bruised wrist.
A driver forced to sleep in his car after Celeste accused him of taking too long at a pharmacy.
A housekeeper denied time off to visit her hospitalized son.
Nina’s lost hours.
Percy’s threats.
And one name Garrett did not recognize.
Mara Vane.
He looked up.
“Who is Mara?”
Laura’s expression changed.
“She was Celeste’s former assistant.”
Garrett’s face hardened.
“Former?”
“She left six months ago.”
“Why?”
“Because Celeste accused her of stealing jewelry.”
Garrett opened a drawer and removed a file.
“I remember that.”
“Mara says she did not steal anything.”
“She was dismissed.”
“She was threatened.”
Garrett’s eyes narrowed.
Laura took a breath.
“I called her last night.”
“Why?”
“Because I recognized the name in an old staff schedule.”
“And?”
“She said Celeste made her sign a confidentiality agreement. She said Celeste used this house to hide things.”
Garrett went still.
“What things?”
Laura reached into the notebook and removed a photograph.
It showed Celeste standing beside a black SUV outside a warehouse near the harbor.
Beside her stood a man Garrett knew well.
Victor Armand.
A rival operator who had been trying to undermine Hardwick’s businesses for years.
The photograph was dated two weeks earlier.
Garrett’s voice became colder.
“Where did you get this?”
“Mara.”
“She took it?”
“She was sent to deliver something. She knew it was wrong, so she kept copies.”
Garrett stared at the image.
For years, he had believed Celeste wanted status.
Now he wondered whether status had only been the cover.
Laura watched the realization spread across his face.
“Your fiancée is not just cruel,” she said. “She is dangerous.”
The office door burst open.
Celeste stood there, breathing hard.
“You have no right to be in here,” she said to Laura.
Garrett did not look away from the photograph.
“Who is Victor Armand?”
Celeste froze.
Only for a second.
But it was enough.
“Someone I met at a charity event,” she said.
“Why were you at his warehouse?”
Celeste’s eyes flashed.
“Because I am allowed to have a life outside this house.”
“Not when that life involves my enemy.”
Laura saw Garrett’s restraint strain.
Celeste turned toward her.
“You did this.”
“No,” Laura said. “You did.”
Celeste stepped forward.
Her hand rose.
Laura moved faster.
She caught Celeste’s wrist before it could strike.
The office went silent.
Garrett watched.
Celeste tried to pull free.
Laura held her wrist firmly but did not hurt her.
“Do not touch me,” Celeste hissed.
Laura looked directly into her eyes.
“Then do not try to touch me.”
Garrett stood.
“Release her, Laura.”
Laura did.
Celeste stumbled backward, furious.
Garrett’s voice was calm.
“Leave the estate.”
Celeste stared at him.
“What?”
“Leave.”
“You are choosing her over me?”
“I am choosing the truth over whatever you have become.”
Celeste laughed sharply.
“You think this maid is telling you the truth?”
“I think I have spent too long ignoring what is in front of me.”
Celeste’s eyes filled with tears.
But Laura did not mistake tears for regret.
Celeste looked at Garrett.
“You cannot do this to me.”
Garrett’s expression did not change.
“I already did. By refusing to see you clearly.”
Celeste turned and walked out.
But Laura knew she was not finished.
People like Celeste did not leave quietly when they lost control.
That night, Mara called Laura from an unknown number.
Her voice was terrified.
“She knows I helped you.”
“Where are you?”
“I don’t know. I was driving home, and someone forced me off the road.”
Laura’s stomach dropped.
Mara began crying.
May you like
“I think Victor Armand has the documents. I think Celeste gave him everything.”
Then the line went dead.
