Chapter 8 - SERENA’S FINAL LIE
Serena disappeared from the estate before the police could question her
again.
Her room was empty. Her passport was missing. A car registered to one of
her companies had been found at a private terminal.
Tristan ordered Daniel to notify the authorities, not to pursue her
outside legal channels.
“She knows the evidence is coming together,” Daniel said. “She may try
to leave the country.”
“Then let the authorities stop her.”
A few hours later, Serena called.
Her voice came through the speaker, smooth and controlled.
“You’ve always been too trusting, Tristan.”
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere you can’t reach me.”
“You’re wrong.”
She laughed softly. “Do you know why Rosa kept that recording? Because
she wanted money. She came to me with it. She asked for a payment.”
Alina, standing beside Tristan, went rigid.
“My mother would never—”
“Your mother was a servant,” Serena cut in. “She knew what secrets were
worth.”
Tristan ended the call.
He didn’t believe Serena. The letter, the hidden key, and the recording
all pointed to a woman who had tried to protect the truth, not sell it.
But the call had revealed something useful. Serena knew about the
recording before Tristan mentioned its contents.
Daniel traced the call to a temporary phone routed through a private
security office. The office belonged to a company once hired by the
Crowne family.
A name appeared on the old contract.
Victor Hale, Tristan’s former security director.
The man who had recommended Dr. Bell.
The man who had dismissed Rosa’s requests for the hospital log.
Tristan read the file in silence.
“Find him,” he said.
Daniel nodded. “Already looking.”
Alina held the vacuum bag close. “I don’t understand. Why would Serena
destroy the ashes?”
“Because she thought the key was still inside the urn,” Tristan said.
“She wanted the evidence hidden.”
“And she didn’t know my mother had separated it.”
“Rosa planned ahead.”
Mabel came into the room carrying the blue bird pendant.
“Papa, can we put Grandma’s bird back?”
Tristan knelt. “We can, sweetheart. We’ll have it repaired.”
“Then Grandma can watch the stars.”
May you like
He kissed her forehead.
“Yes. She can.”
