I shook my head because this part was mine.
Celeste smiled tightly as I walked up with the black box.
It became mine instead.
“Sadie, dear, this isn’t the moment.”
“That’s what you counted on,” I said. “You counted on me never knowing when to speak.”
Dean snapped, “Sit down.”
“No.”
I set the black box on the podium.
“You paid me $2,000 a month to marry Jonah in prison,” I said. “That’s true.”
The room erupted in whispers.
“Sit down.”
“But you didn’t choose me because I was loyal. You chose me because I had nothing.”
I lifted her notebook.
“No active parents. Minor brother dependent. Behind on rent. Likely compliant.”
Celeste reached for it. “That’s private.”
“No,” I said. “That’s proof. You used a trust, a charity, and me to keep power you were never supposed to have. You wanted Jonah to take the fall while you and Dean schemed.”
