Chapter 6: The Name They Buried
Nobody spoke.
Not even Celeste.
That scared Marcus more than anything.
Because people who were innocent usually rushed to explain.
They defended themselves.
They demanded answers.
But Celeste just stood there.
Silent.
Like the name itself had reached out from the past and grabbed her.
Marcus looked around the ballroom.
“Who is Evelyn Carter?””
David looked away.
Gloria closed her eyes.
And Celeste whispered:
“No.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You know her.””
Celeste shook her head.
“No.””
But her voice was different.
Weak.
Uncertain.
A voice that belonged to someone caught in a memory they wanted buried.
David looked at Marcus.
“She was your father’s sister.””
Marcus froze.
“My aunt?””
David nodded.
“You were told she passed away before you were born.””
Marcus looked at Celeste.
“Did she?””
Celeste didn’t answer.
The silence was enough.
Marcus stepped back.
“How many things have you lied about?””
Celeste’s eyes filled with frustration.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
“I can’t.””
The answer shocked everyone.
Even Celeste.
Because she had finally admitted it.
She couldn’t explain.
Not because she didn’t want to.
Because the truth was worse.
Gloria moved closer to Marcus.
“There’s something you need to know.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What?””
Gloria glanced at Nia.
Then back at him.
“This is why I came tonight.””
Marcus frowned.
“You knew?””
“I knew something was wrong.””
“How?””
Gloria looked at Celeste.
“Because she contacted me last week.””
Everyone turned.
Marcus looked confused.
“My mother contacted you?””
Gloria nodded.
“She asked me to convince you to sign.””
Marcus stared.
“She asked you?””
“Yes.””
The betrayal on Marcus’s face was painful to watch.
His mother had gone around him.
She had involved Gloria.
She had tried to use the person Marcus trusted most.
Celeste stepped forward.
“I didn’t want to hurt anyone.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You brought my wife here and destroyed her.””
“I lost control.””
“No.””
His voice became stronger.
“You made a choice.””
That hit her.
Because it was true.
Celeste looked at Nia.
And for the first time, there was no anger.
Only fear.
“I never wanted you involved.””
Nia looked at her.
“You threw a drink in my face.””
Celeste looked down.
“I know.””
The apology was small.
Too small.
It didn’t erase anything.
But it was the first honest thing she had said all night.
David opened the folder again.
“There is one more thing.””
Marcus looked exhausted.
“What now?””
David pulled out another document.
“This is the original ownership record.””
Marcus didn’t move.
“Of the house?””
David nodded.
“Yes.””
He placed it on the table.
“But you need to understand something.””
“What?””
David looked directly at him.
“The house was never the real secret.””
Marcus frowned.
“Then what was?””
David slowly turned the document around.
At the bottom was another signature.
Not Marcus’s.
Not Celeste’s.
His father’s.
Marcus looked at the date.
Then at the handwritten note attached.
His expression changed.
“What does this mean?””
Nobody answered.
Because everyone in that room knew the truth was about to come out.
David spoke quietly.
“Your father didn’t leave that house to your mother.””
Marcus looked up.
“Then who did he leave it to?””
David took a breath.
And before he could answer, every phone in the ballroom vibrated at the same time.
A message appeared on every screen.
One sentence.
One name.
One warning.
Marcus looked down at his phone.
His face drained of color.
Because the message was from Evelyn Carter.
May you like
And it said:
*“Marcus, your mother has been lying to you since the day you were born.””*
