Laylani continued as if Scarlett hadn’t said anything. “You know, if Jules had lived, maybe Elestine would have left Edward, you might have married Alastair, and then you could have double-dated with your parents.” She stood and started to shriek. “If she weren’t so old, she could have had hisbaby, and then that baby would be related to youandAlastair—”
The guards moved toward her, but as they did, police officers flooded the garden.
Satisfaction coursed through Scarlett as an officer recuffedLaylani so her hands were behind her back.
“Let’s go, Lady Heroux. Lots of arrests today.”
“She came in through the back,” said one of Elestine’s guards, pointing to the gate that opened up to a small side canal. He was probably assuming—correctly, Scarlett thought—Elestine wouldn’t want Laylani paraded through the house.
“Our boat’s in the front. It’ll be faster to walk her out that way,” huffed the officer.
Laylani’s eyes were wild as she was hauled through the garden and into the house. “You think you’re better than me? All of you are so high and mighty,” she shouted as they led her through the dining room, where all the Cerulean lords sat in stunned silence. “But Elestine’s as morally bankrupt as— Oh, Edward, lovely to see you! Did you know about El and Jules? I always wondered if you were a cuck or if the relationship was actually open.” She cackled at Edward’s stormy expression.
Everyone in the dining room gaped as Scarlett followed Laylani and the officers out onto the dock. Her family’s pain was out in the open for all to see. It was worth it to watch evil brought to her knees.
“One last thing, Laylani,” called Scarlett as her stepmother was led to the police speedboat. “Elestine was a better mother to me than you ever were. And she’ll continue to be, in spite of what you just pulled.”
“Like I care,” called Laylani.
“Well, maybe you care more about Beni. He’s upstairs—did you know that? I knew he’d be safe here. With Elestine Spencer. Safer than he’d ever be with you. And we’re going to live agoodlife without you.”
Laylani looked over her shoulder, her expression twisted in pure hatred. The cop didn’t miss a beat, though, hauling her into the boat before she could say another word.
Scarlett watched the police boat drive off into the distancebefore heading back inside.
In the dining room, Lord Spencer stood stone-faced next to his wife. He bellowed across the room, “No one leaves the premises without signing an NDA. I’ll ruin anyone who doesn’t comply. That woman is a liar, and anyone who corroborates her story will have me to answer to.” He stomped off without another word. Elestine hurried to follow him.
Lord Navarre gave her a sympathetic grimace before returning to hushed conversation with Lord Mayweather. Otis Garfield was the first to approach Scarlett, a kindly look of concern on his wrinkled face.
“What a nasty display,” he said as he patted Scarlett on the back. “Don’t worry, Scarlett. No one will listen to that snake of a woman.” He opened his arms to her, and Scarlett leaned into the hug, taking what comfort from it she could.
“It’s all right, Otis. Whether they believe her or not, she’s gone. That’s all that matters to me right now.”
CHAPTER
THIRTY-SEVEN
At Parliament that evening, reporters, lords, and ladies packed into the same large room where her father had given his Remembrance Day speech.
“Ready?” Elestine asked Scarlett. She’d graciously offered her the job of speaking for the Ceruleans in the press conference, given that all the revelations were Scarlett’s doing.
“I’m ready,” she said. She’d napped for an hour before coming to Parliament, but she was still exhausted. Everything that had happened had culminated in a strange sense of calm.
Reporters were noisy as they took pictures and talked among themselves while waiting for the press conference to begin.
They walked to the podium together, and Elestine stood to Scarlett’s left as Scarlett spoke about the chain of events leading up to the arrests. “Insidious conspirators, including Lady Moira Ashworth, many of her inner circle, and several senior agents in the Soleil Bureau, were arrested today and will be charged with my father’s murder, among other things. Evidence indicates they were also behind the kidnapping and attempted murder of my grandmother, Manon Bedivere, and myself. If it weren’t for my brother, Beni Heroux, I wouldn’t be alive today.”
Mostly gold smoke streamed from the heads of everyone inthe room. Many pairs of eyes were on Beni, who sat next to Cass in the front row. Scarlett met her brother’s pained gaze. His jaw was set, his back straight. She’d given him a pass on the conference, but he’d wanted to come and show his support. And she was glad he was here. Flashes went off as the press tried to capture their eye contact, and Scarlett looked out at the crowd once more.
“In light of the findings,” she continued, “a retroactive subpoena was granted by a judge for the investigations conducted last night.”
This caused a stir among the press, as well as a slight uptick in black smoke, but Scarlett silenced them.
“A retroactive subpoena is unusual, but the depth of the corruption warranted it. My father was murdered by his colleagues.” She paused as a hush came over the room, but she was determined to convince them. “The prime minister and senior members of the Cerulean Party validated my plan to break into Lord Federsin’s house and the Goldenrod Party headquarters, which was based on preliminary evidence proving corruption at the bureau. If we weren’t dealing with high treason, such invasions of privacy would never have been considered. I believe we saved Soleil from real corruption. If the citizens disagree, it’s an election year, and they can stack the house with Goldenrods to put me in my place.”
Amidst a mix of black and gold smoke, reporters shouted, and dozens of hands flew up when she called for questions. Scarlett pointed to a woman with exclusively gold smoke above her head.
“Your question, please.”
