"Savannah...how long have you been standing there?"
Savannah’s mind raced through a hundred possibilities within a single second.
Run. Lie. Scream. Confess.
None of them would work. Victor Locke was standing in front of her smiling patiently, and behind him, her father sat frozen at his desk. His face was pale and both hands gripped the armrests of his chair.
Savannah immediately filled her eyes with tears. A trick she had learnt from Celeste. Whenever cornered, let the tears do the work.
"Uncle Victor," she whispered. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I was just...I was just looking for Celeste."
"Celeste?"
"I wanted to apologize," Savannah replied. "Mom said I hurt her. I just wanted to tell her I was sorry...and I never meant to ruin things for her."
Confusion flickered across Richard’s face while Victor just watched her.
Savannah didn’t stop. She lowered her head and tried to make herself look guilty and helpless.
"Please don’t be angry with me," she whispered. "I know I’ve been... difficult. I know I embarrassed the family. But I never meant any of it. I just wanted my family to be happy."
The silence stretched for a while then Victor laughed. He stepped forward and patted Savannah’s head.
"Sweet girl," he said. "No one is angry with you."
Savannah still didn’t look up.
"Families are complicated," Victor continued. "I understand. You’ve been overshadowed your whole life. It’s natural to feel... resentful."
"I’m not resentful..."
"Of course you’re not," he said, withdrawing his hand. "Go find Celeste and apologize. I’m sure she’ll forgive you."
Savannah nodded and wiped her eyes. She was about to turn when Victor called her.
"Savannah."
She stopped.
"Next time you want to know who is behind a door...just knock."
Savannah nodded and walked away.
That was close!!!
Savannah found Celeste in the garden. She stood under the plum tree with a glass of water in her hand.
"Celeste," Savannah said, walking towards her.
Celeste turned and smiled.
"Savannah! There you are. I was looking for you."
"I was looking for you too."
"Really?" Celeste asked. "Why?"
"To apologize."
Celeste’s smile widened.
"Oh...you don’t have to..."
"Mom said I should."
"Mom says a lot of things," Celeste took a step closer. "But I’m glad you came. I’ve been worried about you."
"Really?"
"Of course," Celeste replied and took Savannah’s hand. "You’ve been so... different...ever since you met Ansel. It’s like you’re not yourself anymore."
I’m more myself than I’ve ever been.
"I’m fine," Savannah said.
"You always say that," Celeste’s grip tightened on her hand. "But I don’t believe so. You said no to Ansel and then you dumped Ethan. And now you’re here...apologizing to me...which is so unlike you."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I’m just saying... whatever changed in you is good. But remember you already said no to him. So...I hope you won’t embarrass our family in the future."
There you are. The real Celeste. The one I failed to recognize sooner in my last life.
"Don’t worry. I won’t embarrass anyone," Savannah said quietly.
"Good," Celeste’s grip tightened even more. "Because Ansel Locke is mine. He has always been mine."
"I understand," Savannah replied with a smile. "I’ll stay out of your way."
"I knew you would."
With that, she released Savannah’s hand and walked away towards Sienna, who was waiting for her.
"Tell me everything," Mia said the moment Savannah returned.
Savannah sat down on the couch and pulled out her phone.
"I got a recording," Savannah said and played it.
"Consulting fees?" Richard asked.
"For your continued discretion," Victor replied.
The account details will be confirmed at the Harlow charity gala. You’ll receive the transfer confirmation there.
Then they talked about account details but it wasn’t clear because of the closed door.
The recording ended.
Mia leaned back.
"Okay. That’s something."
"It’s not enough," Savannah rubbed her eyes. "I have them talking. I have them mentioning Harlow Holdings. But the actual account details are muffled."
"It’s still a start."
"It’s useless," Savannah stood and paced the living room. "I need solid proof. I need..."
She stopped.
The gala.
She remembered reading about Harlow Foundation’s annual charity gala in her last life. In the report that exposed Harlow Holdings, it was reported that Victor’s first major transfer happened in that gala.
"If I can get into that gala," she said. "I can get the proof."
Mia frowned.
"The Harlow gala? That’s invitation only. It’s one of the most exclusive events of the year."
"I know."
"How are you going to get in?"
"I don’t know yet. But I will."
Meanwhile, at the Locke estate, Ansel stood in his grandmother’s room, his hands clasped behind his back.
"No," he said.
Eleanor looked up from her book angrily.
"No?"
"I won’t marry either Quinn daughter," he said. "Moreover...Celeste doesn’t even qualify. I know why Uncle Victor is releasing headlines daily and having meetings with The Quinns."
"Ansel," she said, setting down her book. "You have only sixty days. You’ve wasted a month already trying to find other legal solutions."
"I’m aware."
"If you don’t marry a blood descendant of Rosalind Quinn within those sixty days, your grandfather’s shares pass to Victor," she paused. "And you will lose control of the company your grandfather and father spent their lives building."
"Then I’ll lose it," Ansel replied coldly.. "I’m not going to marry a stranger to satisfy a dead man’s guilt."
Eleanor was eighty. She had outlived her husband, her son, and her daughter-in-law. She had watched her family fall apart piece by piece and she had never once complained. But now, looking at her grandson like this, she felt a grief she couldn’t explain.
"Ansel," she said softly. "Sit down."
He sat and Eleanor took his hand. Her fingers were thin and fragile but her grip was surprisingly strong.
"When your grandfather wrote that clause, it wasn’t about guilt. It was about gratitude. Rosalind Quinn saved his life. He spent years trying to find her and when he finally did, she was dead."
Ansel didn’t say anything.
"That clause is your grandfather’s way of saying thank you."
"I understand," Ansel whispered.
"If you don’t marry that girl, Victor will get everything. He will take the company and this house."
Ansel’s hands clenched into fists.
"I will lose my home, Ansel. The home your grandfather built for me. The garden where I’ve spent sixty years. The home where you and your father grew up," her voice cracked. "I will lose everything I have left."
Ansel sighed and stared at the floor. He had no argument left.
"And who knows, maybe you’ll fall in love with her," Eleanor smiled.
Falling in love with a gold digger?? Not in this life!!
"You have sixty days," Eleanor said. "Use them wisely."
Eleanor didn’t wait for Ansel to make a move. The next morning, she sent two envelopes bearing the Locke seal. One was delivered to Celeste at the Quinn mansion while the other was delivered to Savannah at Mia’s apartment.
"Savannah," Mia called as she received the envelope from a courier. "You have mail."
Savannah took the envelope and opened it. There was a card embossed with the Locke crest inside.
Miss Savannah Quinn,
You are cordially invited to tea with Madame Eleanor Locke, tomorrow at four o’clock.