59:What Celeste Knew

What Celeste Knew

Ophelia barely slept that night.

Celeste's words kept returning to her.

Some people will do anything to keep the past buried.

That wasn't the response of someone who had simply known April at university.

Celeste was afraid.

The question was, who was she afraid of?

The following morning, Ophelia sat at her desk and opened her notebook.

She wrote one question at the top of the page.

What happened three weeks before April disappeared?

She stared at it for a while.

Then she added another.

Why did Celeste leave the university?

Her phone rang.

Anonymous.

"I spoke to someone who worked at the university during that period."

"And?"

"Celeste wasn't fired."

"I know."

"But she wasn't exactly free to leave either."

Ophelia sat up.

"What does that mean?"

"Her supervisor received a phone call the day before her resignation."

"From who?"

"We don't know."

"Anonymous."

"I'm working on it."

She sighed.

"There's something else."

"What?"

"April and Celeste weren't close friends."

Ophelia frowned.

"Then why was Celeste so frightened when I mentioned April?"

"That's what we're trying to find out."

Later that afternoon, Ophelia received a message from Vivian Sterling.

I need you today. Emergency.

Ophelia smiled.

She called her.

"What happened?"

"Nothing terrible."

"Then why did you say emergency?"

"Because my wedding client changed the entire seating arrangement."

Ophelia laughed.

"You scared me."

"Good. Now you know how event planners feel."

They agreed to meet at Vivian's office.

When Ophelia arrived, Vivian was surrounded by folders, invitation samples and fabric swatches.

"I've been working nonstop."

"I can see that."

Vivian dropped into her chair.

"And I have something exciting to tell you."

"What?"

She leaned forward.

"The Ashford family has officially hired me for the wedding."

Ophelia's eyes widened.

"The wedding?"

Vivian smiled.

"Don't look at me like that."

"Ethan hasn't proposed."

"I know."

"Then why are you planning a wedding?"

Vivian laughed.

"Because Elena likes to plan ahead."

Ophelia shook her head.

"That woman is impossible."

"She's already given me a guest list."

They both laughed.

For a moment, Ophelia felt genuinely happy.

She hadn't realized how much she needed moments like this.

When the laughter faded, Vivian studied her.

"You're hiding something."

Ophelia looked at her.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I've known you long enough."

Vivian reached across the desk.

"You don't have to tell me everything."

"But don't disappear from me either."

Ophelia felt a lump in her throat.

"I won't."

Vivian smiled.

"Good."

That evening, Ophelia returned home and found an envelope underneath her apartment door.

There was no name on it.

No address.

She opened it carefully.

Inside was a single photograph.

April stood outside the university Fine Arts Annex.

She wasn't alone.

Standing beside her was Celeste.

Ophelia stared at the photograph.

On the back was a handwritten sentence.

Ask her what happened that night.

Ophelia turned the photograph over again.

This was no longer a coincidence.

Someone wanted her to find the truth.

But they also wanted to control what she found.

She picked up her phone and called Anonymous.

"I have another photograph."

His voice became serious.

"Send it to me."

She did.

A few seconds passed.

Then Anonymous spoke.

"Ophelia..."

"What?"

"I recognize the person standing behind them."

Her heart skipped.

"Who?"

Anonymous was silent for a moment.

Then he said,

"Nathan."

Ophelia stared at the photograph.

Nathan had been there.

April had been there.

Celeste had been there.

And whatever happened that night...

Someone had gone to great lengths to make sure nobody talked about it.