Chapter 5 - The Ambush at the Atelier
Back at the Bellamy residence, Celeste and Brooke were in a state of absolute hysteria. Phone calls were flooding in from society elites who had witnessed the gala disaster. Brooke’s wealthy fiancé, an arrogant real estate heir named Julian Sterling, had already sent three furious text messages demanding to know why the terrifying Gabriel Varrone had publicly threatened her family.
""This is all that fat cow's fault!"" Brooke shrieked, kicking her designer luggage across the bedroom. ""She ruined my entire evening! Why did she even wear that hideous rag?!""
""Calm down!"" Celeste snapped, chewing on her manicured nails. ""Nora has nowhere to go. She has no money, no connections, and no spine. She probably spent the night crying in a cheap motel. When she crawls back here, I will make her sign a public apology stating that she tore her own dress to frame you. Julian won't break the engagement if we spin the narrative.""
Just then, the front doors of the mansion were pushed open.
Celeste marched down the grand staircase, ready to unleash venom, but the words froze in her throat. Entering the foyer was not a weeping, broken Nora. It was a woman transformed.
Nora walked in wearing a tailored bespoke emerald coat that hugged her curves with breathtaking elegance, her hair styled in soft retro waves, and her mother’s diamond wren brooch gleaming proudly on her lapel. Behind her walked Gabriel Varrone, his presence filling the high-ceilinged room with an aura of absolute dominance, flanked by six armed men in dark suits and Arthur Vance.
""Nora?!"" Brooke gasped, appearing at the top of the stairs. ""What are you doing bringing these criminals into our home?!""
""This is not your home, Brooke,"" Nora said, her voice clear, calm, and utterly devoid of fear. ""And it never was.""
Celeste rushed forward, her eyes wild with rage. ""You ungrateful little brat! How dare you trespass here after humiliating my daughter! Get out before I call the police!""
Arthur Vance stepped forward, holding up a certified court document bearing the seal of the state supreme court. ""I wouldn't advise that, Mrs. Bellamy. These are immediate eviction notices and criminal warrants. We have uncovered the original irrevocable trust created by June Bellamy, along with the audio recordings of your fraudulent transfers during her illness. Furthermore, the deed to this house, the downtown King Street building, and all intellectual property belongs exclusively to Nora Bellamy.""
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Celeste turned pale as chalk. ""That's impossible! The will—""
""The will you produced was forged by a disbarred notary you paid twenty thousand dollars to seven years ago,"" Gabriel interrupted smoothly, taking a slow step toward Celeste. ""He confessed to my associates approximately forty-five minutes ago. He was remarkably eager to talk once he understood who was asking.""
