Chapter 5 - CELINA'S SECRET
The next morning, Detective Morgan arrived with a warrant.
Not for me.
For Celina.
She had been arrested at her home.
The news hit social media within hours.
Luke's attorney released a statement claiming my husband was innocent and that I had fabricated the story.
Then a photograph appeared online.
Me.
Leaving the hospital.
My face pale.
My leg immobilized.
The caption read:
“WIFE ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY HUSBAND'S LIFE AFTER DOMESTIC DISPUTE.”
My blood boiled.
“They're lying.”
Daniel nodded.
“I know.”
“But people will believe it.”
“Some will.”
“Then what do I do?”
“Nothing.”
I stared at him.
“Nothing?”
“Let the evidence speak.”
That afternoon, Detective Morgan returned.
She placed a recording device on the table.
“Celina has started talking.”
I leaned forward.
“What did she say?”
“She claims Luke planned everything.”
My heart pounded.
“Everything?”
“Yes.”
“Did she admit hurting me?”
“She says she encouraged him.”
I closed my eyes.
Then Detective Morgan said:
“She also gave us something unexpected.”
“What?”
“A ledger.”
Celina had kept handwritten records of Luke's relationships.
Names.
Dates.
Addresses.
Financial information.
Every woman Luke had targeted.
Every amount he had obtained.
Every relationship had been documented.
Like transactions.
I felt sick.
“Why would she keep this?”
Detective Morgan looked at me.
“Because Celina wasn't protecting Luke.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“She was protecting herself.”
Apparently, Celina had been receiving money from every woman Luke exploited.
Commissions.
Transfers.
Cash.
She wasn't simply his mother.
She was his partner.
For years, they had operated together.
The house.
The bank accounts.
The shell companies.
Everything.
Then Detective Morgan placed a photograph in front of me.
It showed Celina meeting someone outside a restaurant.
A man.
I recognized him.
“Who is that?”
Detective Morgan's expression hardened.
“Your husband's attorney.”
I stared at the photograph.
“They know each other?”
“More than that.”
My stomach tightened.
“Explain.”
“He's been representing Luke for years.”
“That isn't unusual.”
“No.”
Detective Morgan pointed to another photograph.
The attorney handing Celina an envelope.
“That's unusual.”
My heart began racing.
“What was in the envelope?”
“We don't know yet.”
Then Daniel entered.
He held another file.
“I think I do.”
He opened it.
Inside was a photograph of a safe deposit box.
Daniel pointed to the number.
“This belongs to Luke's attorney.”
I stared at it.
“What's inside?”
“Evidence.”
“Of what?”
Daniel's voice dropped.
“Payments to witnesses.”
The room went silent.
Luke wasn't simply defending himself.
He had planned his defense before he attacked me.
He had expected consequences.
Maybe he'd done this before.
Maybe he'd always believed he could buy his way out.
But then Detective Morgan said:
“We found another recording.”
“From where?”
“Celina's house.”
She pressed play.
Static filled the room.
Then Celina's voice.
“If she signs the papers, everything becomes simple.”
Luke answered.
“And if she doesn't?”
“She will.”
“How?”
A pause.
Then Celina laughed.
“Fear works better than persuasion.”
My blood ran cold.
Luke's voice returned.
“What if she goes to the police?”
Celina answered:
“She won't.”
“Why?”
“Because by the time she understands what we're doing, she'll have no one left.”
The recording stopped.
I stared at the device.
Daniel's face was expressionless.
Detective Morgan looked at me.
“Clover, there's something else.”
“What?”
“Celina wasn't talking about your friends.”
I frowned.
“Then who?”
“Your sister.”
My heart stopped.
“What about her?”
Detective Morgan opened another file.
“Luke had been monitoring her.”
I couldn't breathe.
“Why?”
“Because your sister was asking questions.”
“What questions?”
“About your finances.”
I stared at the wall.
My sister had tried to warn me.
Several times.
I had ignored her.
Because Luke told me she was jealous.
Because he told me she wanted my marriage to fail.
Because he told me she was toxic.
He had isolated me from her too.
And now I understood why.
She had been getting close to the truth.
I reached for my phone.
“I need to call her.”
Daniel stopped me.
“Let me call first.”
“Why?”
“Because we don't know whether Luke has access to her phone.”
I froze.
Daniel took out his own phone.
He made the call.
It rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then someone answered.
A man's voice said:
“Hello?”
Daniel's face changed.
He immediately hung up.
I stared at him.
“Who was that?”
May you like
He looked at Detective Morgan.
“Luke.”
