Chapter 7 — The Socialite Who Knew Too Much
Chapter 7 — The Socialite Who Knew Too Much
Charlotte did not believe him.
She refused to.
Her grandfather's voice had vanished from the speaker, but his final accusation remained in the archive like smoke.
Your mother ordered your death.
Charlotte turned toward her father.
“Tell me he's lying.”
Her father didn't answer.
“Dad.”
Still nothing.
Charlotte's voice rose.
“Tell me!”
Her father finally looked at her.
“He isn't completely lying.”
The words struck harder than any accusation.
Charlotte stepped backward.
Vivian covered her mouth.
Gideon looked away.
Charlotte stared at all three of them.
“You all knew.”
Nobody spoke.
She laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
Her eyes burned.
“Everyone knew except me.”
She turned toward the sealed archive door.
“Open it.”
Gideon tried the controls.
Nothing.
“It's locked remotely.”
“Then break it.”
“We can't.”
Charlotte looked at him.
“You have ten seconds.”
Gideon began working on the panel.
Charlotte turned to Vivian.
“You.”
Vivian froze.
“What?”
“You knew my mother.”
“Yes.”
“You wore her diamonds.”
“Yes.”
“You protected her secrets.”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me.”
Vivian swallowed.
“Your mother didn't order your death.”
Charlotte stopped.
“What?”
Vivian looked at Charlotte's father.
“He knows that.”
Her father closed his eyes.
Vivian continued.
“She ordered something else.”
“What?”
“To make you disappear.”
Charlotte's heart pounded.
“Why?”
“Because she believed someone inside the family was trying to kill you.”
“Who?”
Vivian hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Your grandfather.”
Charlotte looked toward the speaker.
“He said she ordered it.”
“He lied.”
“Why would I believe you?”
“Because I was there.”
Vivian walked toward Charlotte.
The socialite who had once humiliated her in the lobby now looked nothing like the confident woman from that day.
Her makeup was ruined.
Her eyes were red.
Her hands trembled.
“I knew your mother for fifteen years,” Vivian said.
“You were her friend?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you attack me?”
Vivian lowered her head.
“Because your grandfather was watching.”
Charlotte's expression hardened.
“You hurt me.”
“I know.”
“You made me believe you hated me.”
“I know.”
“You made everyone think I was an impostor.”
“I needed them to believe I was against you.”
Charlotte shook her head.
“That isn't enough.”
“No.”
Vivian took a breath.
“So I'll tell you everything.”
Fifteen years earlier, Evelyn Vale discovered a hidden account.
It contained payments made by Solmere subsidiaries to politicians, judges, regulators, and private security firms.
The money wasn't technically illegal.
But the purpose was.
The accounts were being used to control people.
Blackmail.
Influence.
Silencing.
When Evelyn investigated further, she discovered the money ultimately flowed to one person.
Arthur Vale.
Charlotte's grandfather.
“He had built a private network around the company,” Vivian explained.
“Not just executives.”
“Lawyers.”
“Judges.”
“Bankers.”
“Politicians.”
“Anyone who could threaten him.”
Charlotte listened.
“Why didn't my mother expose him?”
“Because she tried.”
Vivian looked down.
“She failed.”
The first person Evelyn trusted was Adrian.
“He was young then,” Vivian said.
“Ambitious. Brilliant. Loyal.”
Charlotte remembered Adrian's calm face.
“He worked for my grandfather?”
“At first.”
“And then?”
“He discovered what Arthur was doing.”
Vivian's voice dropped.
“He tried to leave.”
Charlotte frowned.
“My grandfather wouldn't let him.”
“No.”
“What happened?”
“Arthur threatened Adrian's family.”
Charlotte's eyes widened.
“He had a younger sister.”
Charlotte looked at Gideon.
“You knew?”
Gideon nodded.
“She disappeared.”
Vivian continued.
“Adrian was forced to stay.”
“Until my mother?”
“Yes.”
“She recruited him?”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
“I was already helping her.”
Charlotte stared at her.
“You were part of the resistance.”
Vivian gave a sad smile.
“That sounds much more glamorous than it was.”
“What was it?”
“Fear.”
Charlotte sat on the edge of a table.
“Then why did my mother make me disappear?”
Vivian answered immediately.
“Because Arthur discovered you were her weakness.”
Charlotte's chest tightened.
“He threatened me?”
“Worse.”
Vivian reached into her coat.
She removed an old photograph.
Charlotte took it.
It showed her at seventeen.
Standing outside a university.
A black car waited behind her.
There were two men beside it.
Charlotte didn't recognize them.
Vivian pointed.
“Arthur's security.”
Charlotte looked at the date.
The same week her college account had been frozen.
The same week her mother had suddenly forbidden her from traveling.
The same week Charlotte had believed her parents were fighting.
“They were following me.”
“Yes.”
“For years?”
“Yes.”
Charlotte looked up.
“Why didn't anyone tell me?”
“Because your mother wanted you to have a normal life.”
Charlotte laughed.
“Nothing about my life was normal.”
Vivian looked at her.
“Your mother spent years trying to make it normal.”
Gideon finally opened the archive door.
Charlotte walked out.
She expected the hallway to be empty.
It wasn't.
Security officers stood everywhere.
Adrian was waiting.
His face was grim.
“Where is the file?”
Charlotte stared at him.
“Gone.”
“Who took it?”
She looked toward Vivian.
“I think you know.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“I don't.”
“You knew my grandfather was listening.”
“Yes.”
“You knew my mother had hidden evidence.”
“Yes.”
“And you still didn't tell me.”
Adrian said nothing.
Charlotte stepped closer.
“I'm beginning to understand why my mother trusted you.”
His eyes met hers.
“She didn't.”
Charlotte froze.
“She used me.”
Adrian's voice cracked slightly.
“Just as your father did.”
Charlotte looked at Vivian.
“Is that true?”
Vivian nodded.
“Yes.”
Charlotte's stomach twisted.
“My entire family treated me like a chess piece.”
“No,” Vivian said.
“Your mother treated you like someone she was trying desperately to keep alive.”
Suddenly, the lobby below erupted in shouting.
Everyone turned toward the glass railing.
A crowd had gathered.
Cameras flashed.
Reporters were pouring into the hotel.
Charlotte frowned.
“What is happening?”
Adrian looked at his phone.
His expression changed.
“They know.”
“Know what?”
“That you're alive.”
Charlotte's blood went cold.
Within seconds, every television screen in the hotel changed.
A photograph appeared.
Charlotte.
The headline underneath read:
MISSING SOLMERE HEIRESS RETURNS — FRAUD OR FAMILY CONSPIRACY?
Another headline appeared.
CHARLOTTE VALE ACCUSED OF ILLEGAL CORPORATE TAKEOVER.
Another.
SOLMERE BOARD CLAIMS HEIRESS IS AN IMPOSTOR.
Charlotte stared.
“They're destroying me.”
Adrian nodded.
“Your grandfather is moving.”
“Already?”
“He prepared for this.”
Vivian stepped closer.
“He knew you would come back.”
Charlotte looked at her.
“Then he wants me here.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Vivian hesitated.
“Because the Solmere succession vote is tomorrow.”
Charlotte's eyes widened.
“What vote?”
“The board will decide who controls the company.”
“And I'm the heir.”
“On paper.”
Charlotte understood.
“If they declare me an impostor…”
“Your grandfather keeps control.”
Charlotte turned toward Adrian.
“Can they do that?”
“Yes.”
“Can you stop them?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because they have the voting shares.”
Charlotte looked at the boardroom.
“How many?”
“Fifty-two percent.”
Charlotte's face hardened.
“My grandfather.”
Adrian nodded.
“Exactly.”
That evening, Charlotte went to Vivian's suite.
Vivian opened the door.
“I knew you'd come.”
Charlotte entered.
“You said my mother trusted you.”
“Yes.”
“Then I need something.”
“What?”
“The diamonds.”
Vivian stared at her.
“What?”
“Your necklace.”
Vivian touched her throat.
“The memory chip?”
“Yes.”
Vivian shook her head.
“It's gone.”
Charlotte frowned.
“You gave it to someone?”
“No.”
“Then where is it?”
Vivian looked toward the mirror.
Charlotte followed her gaze.
The necklace was hanging inside the wardrobe.
Vivian opened the hidden compartment.
The diamonds were there.
But the chip was missing.
Charlotte frowned.
“Someone took it.”
Vivian nodded.
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“Who?”
Vivian looked terrified.
“I think I know.”
“Who?”
She whispered:
“Bianca.”
Charlotte frowned.
“Who is Bianca?”
Vivian's expression changed.
“The woman who used to work for your mother.”
Charlotte waited.
“She wasn't an assistant.”
“What was she?”
Vivian lowered her voice.
“Your mother's replacement.”
Charlotte stared.
“What does that mean?”
Vivian closed the door.
“Your mother had a double.”
Charlotte's blood ran cold.
“A double?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To deceive Arthur.”
Charlotte's mind raced.
“Where is she now?”
Vivian looked at her.
“She died three years ago.”
Charlotte froze.
“When?”
“The night your mother died.”
Charlotte stared at Vivian.
“That's impossible.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Because the woman everyone thought was your mother…”
Vivian paused.
“…was actually Bianca.”
Charlotte's face went pale.
“What are you saying?”
“Your mother was already gone.”
Charlotte shook her head.
“No.”
Vivian stepped closer.
“Arthur didn't kill your mother.”
Charlotte's voice cracked.
“Then who did?”
Vivian whispered:
“Bianca.”
The room became silent.
Charlotte stared at her.
“Why would my mother's double kill her?”
Vivian looked toward the window.
“Because she wasn't working for your grandfather.”
“Then who?”
Vivian's eyes filled with fear.
“The same person who ordered the original signature forged.”
Charlotte's heart stopped.
“Who?”
Vivian whispered a name.
“Your brother.”
Charlotte froze.
“Nathan?”
Vivian nodded.
“He didn't betray you three years ago.”
She swallowed.
“He betrayed your mother.”
Charlotte couldn't breathe.
Then her phone rang.
A message appeared.
COME TO THE ROOFTOP. ALONE.
Charlotte looked at Vivian.
“Who sent this?”
Vivian looked at the screen.
Her face turned white.
“Your mother.”
Charlotte stared.
“That isn't possible.”
Vivian whispered:
“Then why does she know you're alive?”
The phone rang again.
A second message appeared.
YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES.
Then another.
BRING THE FILE.
Charlotte looked down.
The file was gone.
Someone had taken it.
And suddenly she understood.
The person who had stolen it wasn't trying to hide the truth.
They were trying to lure her somewhere.
Charlotte looked at Vivian.
“I'm going.”
Vivian grabbed her arm.
“No.”
Charlotte pulled free.
“I have to.”
“Charlotte, this is a trap.”
Charlotte looked toward the rooftop doors.
“I know.”
“Then why go?”
Charlotte's expression hardened.
“Because I've spent three years being afraid of people who knew more than me.”
She walked away.
“I'm done.”
Vivian followed.
“Where are you going?”
May you like
Charlotte looked back.
“To meet the woman who is supposed to be dead.”
