Chapter 4 - The Christmas Eve Julian Lied About
Julian had told everyone Mara died at home.
A sudden cardiac event.
He said he found her beside Elsie’s crib.
He said the ambulance came too late.
Cesare had never questioned the story because grief makes even intelligent men grateful for simple explanations.
Now he requested the records.
The ambulance was called at 1:14 a.m.
Mara had been pronounced dead at 2:02.
But a hotel parking receipt in her audit folder showed her car leaving the Bellamy garage at 12:31.
She had been there forty-three minutes before the emergency call.
Cesare drove to Julian’s apartment before sunrise.
His son opened the door wearing yesterday’s clothes.
“What happened the night Mara died?”
Julian stared at him.
“She died.”
“Before that.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Cesare showed him the parking receipt.
Julian sat down.
“I didn’t know she went there.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because we were fighting.”
“About Vanessa?”
Julian flinched.
There it was.
Julian admitted Mara had discovered flirtatious messages between him and Vanessa. He insisted there had been no physical affair while Mara was alive.
“Mara said I was already choosing Vanessa every time I chose the project over our family.”
“She was right.”
“I know that now.”
“Too late.”
Julian cried.
Cesare did not comfort him.
“What happened when Mara came home?”
“She was upset. She said she finally had proof.”
“Of the invoices?”
“Yes.”
“Did she name Ethan?”
“She said Ethan was scared.”
“Vanessa?”
“She said Vanessa would destroy the files if she found them.”
“And then?”
“Mara went to check on Elsie. Ten minutes later I heard something fall.”
Julian’s voice broke.
“I found her on the floor.”
Cesare studied him.
“Did you call immediately?”
Julian looked away.
“How long?”
“Maybe three minutes.”
“Why wait?”
“I panicked.”
“What did you do?”
“I called Vanessa.”
Cesare closed his eyes.
“You called Vanessa before an ambulance.”
“I thought Mara had taken something. Vanessa knew her medications.”
“Mara did not use drugs.”
“I know.”
“Now.”
Julian nodded miserably.
Vanessa arrived at the apartment before paramedics.
That detail had never appeared in the family story.
“What did she do?”
“She checked Mara’s pulse. She told me to call 911.”
“Did she touch anything?”
Julian hesitated.
“She picked up Mara’s phone.”
“Where is that phone?”
“I don’t know.”
Cesare’s anger became cold.
“Your wife was dying and Vanessa took her phone.”
“I didn’t understand.”
“You worked very hard not to understand anything inconvenient.”
At the foundation office Samuel found a copy of Mara’s autopsy. No poison. No evidence of violence. Her death was attributed to an undiagnosed heart condition.
But one note mentioned extreme stress shortly before collapse.
The mystery was not whether someone had physically killed Mara.
It was what she had discovered in her final hour—and what had been stolen while Julian delayed.
Christmas Eve rehearsal continued despite the scandal. Cesare refused to cancel the gala because the shelters needed the winter funds.
He brought Elsie to the hotel only with Rosa, Paul, and two security officers.
Vanessa appeared near the ballroom entrance.
“You banned me from Elsie, not the hotel.”
Cesare stepped in front of her.
“You are not coming near my granddaughter.”
“She likes me.”
From Cesare’s arms Elsie immediately buried her face.
Vanessa’s jaw tightened.
“She’s tired.”
“No. She remembers you.”
Vanessa lowered her voice. “You’re turning a baby into a witness.”
Cesare stared.
“That is a strange choice of words.”
Vanessa realized it too late.
Paul moved closer.
Cesare said, “What happened in Production Office B?”
“Nothing.”
“Why did you take her there?”
“I didn’t.”
“We have footage.”
“You have footage of a corridor.”
“Did you destroy Mara’s audit?”
Vanessa’s face changed.
Only for a second.
Then she smiled.
“You should ask Ethan.”
“He’s missing.”
“Then perhaps he’s guilty.”
Cesare took out the photograph of Mara and Ethan.
Vanessa stopped smiling.
“Where did you get that?”
“Why?”
“That man manipulated Mara.”
“Into doing what?”
“Into believing Julian was involved.”
Cesare’s phone rang.
Samuel.
“We found Ethan.”
“Where?”
“St. Matthew’s Hospital.”
“Why?”
“He was brought in after a car accident.”
“Can he talk?”
“Yes.”
Cesare looked at Vanessa.
She had heard enough.
Her face went pale.
At the hospital Ethan’s first words were not about the accident.
He grabbed Cesare’s sleeve.
“Mara didn’t die because of the audit.”
Cesare leaned closer.
“What does that mean?”
Ethan whispered, “She died because she found out who Elsie really inherits from.”
Cesare stared.
“Elsie inherits from Julian.”
Ethan shook his head.
“No.”
Then the monitor beside him began alarming as nurses rushed in.
May you like
Before Cesare was pushed from the room, Ethan said one final sentence.
“Find Mara’s Christmas stocking.”
