Chapter 6: The Enemy Hidden Behind My Husband
The Ashcroft Legacy Trust changed everything.
I spent the entire night reading every document.
Every agreement.
Every note my father left behind.
And by sunrise, I understood something terrifying.
Adrian had never been the biggest threat.
He had only been the most obvious one.
The trust revealed a network of protections my father created before his death.
Private assets.
Hidden investments.
Emergency authority.
But one section caught my attention.
A list of individuals who had access to certain financial information.
One name was circled.
Celeste Vale.
I stared at it.
My mother-in-law.
Why?
Why would my father include her?
Daniel arrived at my office early.
"You look like you didn't sleep.""
"I didn't.""
He noticed the documents.
"What happened?""
I pushed the trust toward him.
"Find everything about Celeste Vale.""
His expression changed.
"Celeste?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because my father trusted her with information.""
Daniel looked surprised.
"That's impossible.""
"That's what I thought.""
The investigation started immediately.
And within hours, we found something.
Something neither Adrian nor Celeste expected.
Years ago, before Adrian and I married, Celeste had financial problems.
Large ones.
Her family business had collapsed.
She had debts.
Legal issues.
And someone anonymously paid them off.
The payment came through a private foundation.
One connected to Ashcroft Holdings.
I read the report twice.
"Why would my father help her?""
Daniel looked uncertain.
"Maybe he wanted to help Adrian.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
Because my father was many things.
Generous.
Fair.
Careful.
But never careless.
There had to be another reason.
That evening, Celeste called me.
I almost didn't answer.
Almost.
"Eleanor.""
Her voice sounded different.
Not arrogant.
Not cold.
Worried.
"We need to talk.""
I leaned back in my chair.
"Do we?""
"Yes.""
"About what?""
A pause.
Then she said:
"About Adrian.""
I almost laughed.
"Interesting. Yesterday you were standing beside him.""
Silence.
Then:
"I made a mistake.""
I closed my eyes.
That sentence sounded familiar.
Everyone suddenly realized their mistakes after losing power.
"Where?""
She gave me an address.
A private location.
I arrived twenty minutes later.
Celeste was sitting alone.
No diamonds.
No designer clothes.
No perfect image.
For the first time, I saw the woman beneath the reputation.
"You know, don't you?"" she asked.
I didn't sit.
"Know what?""
Her eyes filled with regret.
"That Adrian didn't build this company.""
I remained silent.
She looked down.
"I knew about Ashcroft Holdings.""
That surprised me.
"How?""
"Your father told me.""
My expression hardened.
"He trusted you.""
She nodded.
"He did.""
"Then why did you spend years insulting me?""
Her face fell.
Because she knew there was no excuse.
"I thought...""
She stopped.
"I thought Adrian deserved more.""
The honesty was almost worse.
More than hatred.
More than cruelty.
She truly believed I was beneath him.
"And now?""
She looked at me.
"Now I realize Adrian never deserved you.""
I wanted to feel satisfaction.
I wanted to enjoy seeing her regret.
But I only felt tired.
"Why did my father help you?""
Celeste looked away.
"Because he knew something.""
"What?""
She swallowed.
"He knew Adrian was ambitious.""
I waited.
"But he didn't know how far Adrian would go.""
The room became quiet.
Then she said the words that changed everything.
"Vanessa wasn't the first woman.""
I froze.
"What?""
Celeste looked at me.
"Adrian has been preparing to leave you for months.""
My hands went cold.
"What are you talking about?""
"He planned to divorce you after securing control of the company.""
The air disappeared from my lungs.
Not because I loved him.
That part was gone.
But because I finally understood.
The humiliation at the gala wasn't spontaneous.
It wasn't an emotional mistake.
It was a performance.
He wanted to destroy my reputation before removing me.
He wanted the world to see me as a powerless wife before taking everything.
Celeste continued.
"He told people you were unstable.""
My jaw tightened.
"He said you were becoming difficult.""
I laughed quietly.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was unbelievable.
The man who had built his career on my support had planned to erase me.
"Why are you telling me this?""
Celeste looked ashamed.
"Because Adrian is dangerous now.""
I stood.
"He's always been dangerous.""
"No.""
She shook her head.
"You don't understand.""
Her voice lowered.
"He has someone helping him.""
I stopped.
"Who?""
Celeste looked directly into my eyes.
"The person who convinced him he could defeat Ashcroft.""
A chill went through me.
"Who?""
She hesitated.
Then whispered:
"Your father's former enemy.""
I stared at her.
"My father's enemy died years ago.""
Celeste shook her head.
"No.""
She looked terrified.
"He didn't.""
The room went silent.
Because suddenly, the war Adrian started wasn't just about a company.
It was about a legacy.
May you like
And someone who had been waiting years to destroy my family.
Was finally making their move.
