The Old Woman They Threw Out Was the Real Owner

Chapter 3: The Vault Opens

Celeste lunged toward the nearest security guard.

"Turn off the cameras."

No one moved.

Adelaide's voice remained quiet. "They work for Laurent House. Not for you."

Noah looked at the gold key in his palm, then at Adelaide.

She nodded. "Come with me."

The old private vault stood behind the main showroom, hidden behind a wall of modern black marble Celeste had installed to make the store look colder and richer. For years, staff had believed it was only decoration.

But when Noah placed the key into a tiny golden lock near the crest, the wall released with a deep metallic sound.

Inside was a smaller room lined with old ledgers, velvet cases, and sealed files.

Celeste followed them in, trembling with rage.

"You cannot do this in front of staff," she hissed. "You will destroy the brand."

Adelaide turned. "No, Celeste. You already did."

The company lawyer, Ms. Hargrove, entered with two board members behind her. She opened a red folder.

"Mrs. Laurent requested an emergency audit last month," the lawyer said. "We found missing inventory, forged appraisals, and private purchases charged to the company."

Celeste's face hardened. "Those were business expenses."

"Ten million dollars in business expenses?" Adelaide asked.

Noah stared at Celeste.

Adelaide opened one velvet case.

Inside should have been the Laurent Blue, the rare diamond her late husband had cut for her fortieth birthday.

The case was empty.

A murmur of horror ran through the staff.

Celeste whispered, "I can explain."

Adelaide's eyes were wet now, but her voice was steel.

"You sold my husband's diamond to cover your gambling debts."

Celeste shook her head. "No."

Ms. Hargrove placed a photo on the table.

It showed Celeste at a private auction in Geneva.

Adelaide looked at her.

"You thought I was old. You thought I was sick. You thought I was gone."

Then she reached into her bag and placed a second photo beside the first.

It showed Noah's mother, a former Laurent House jeweler, being escorted out of the store years earlier.

Adelaide's voice dropped.

"And you blamed the theft on her."

Noah stopped breathing.