Chapter 178 The Neville Group Changes Its Name
Celeste lounged in the enormous jetted tub in the master suite of an Ashbourne country estate.
Warm water laced with essential oils enveloped her body, the current gently massaging her skin.
A silent maid knelt beside the tub, working her shoulders and neck with careful hands.
Celeste closed her eyes, breathing slowly, surrendering to the luxury of it all.
Everything here was built on money. Her money. Her mother's money.
This was the life she wanted.
Far from Grandhaven's power struggles. Far from the Neville Family's wreckage. No more living at someone else's mercy. No more facing Caroline.
No, Caroline was nothing now.
Just a woman who'd lost her mind.
And she, Celeste, was the one who'd won.
She still felt a flicker of regret that she hadn't married Alexander.
But maybe that was for the best.
A man who could drive Caroline to the edge for Edith's sake, even if he loved Celeste now, what would happen the day he got tired of her?
She let out a soft laugh. Better not to find out.
She lazily lifted one wet arm, trailing her fingers through the rose petals floating on the water's surface. Her other hand scrolled idly through her phone.
Then, as she swiped down again, a bolded financial news headline jumped out at her.
#BREAKING: Grandhaven Legacy Company the Neville Group Officially Renamed--New Chairman Revealed! Executive Authority Temporarily Delegated to Former Chairman Damon Neville
The words "the Neville Group" and "new chairman" made Celeste's chest tighten.
Her heart began to race. A sense of dread crept over her.
New chairman? Who?
The Neville Group was a shell company now, a ruin. Who would possibly take it over?
She held her breath, her finger trembling as she tapped the notification.
The article loaded quickly.
Beneath the bold headline was a nighttime photo of the Neville Group headquarters and an official portrait of Caroline from a charity gala years ago.
The text was brief and clinical:
[The Neville Group has completed a major equity restructuring and corporate registry update. Former majority shareholder and chairman Damon Neville has transferred the vast majority of his shares to his eldest daughter, Caroline Neville, at no cost. Caroline is now the official chairman and controlling shareholder of the Neville Group. However, due to personal circumstances preventing Caroline from participating in daily operations, the board has resolved to temporarily delegate all shareholder rights and executive authority to her father, Damon, who will act on her behalf.]
"No. No, that's impossible."
Celeste shot upright in the tub.
Water sloshed violently over the sides, soaking the pristine marble floor and the maid kneeling beside her.
"Miss! Did I hurt you?"
The maid scrambled back, panicked, fumbling for a towel to mop up the water.
But her hands shook. She was terrified of making things worse.
Celeste didn't even notice her.
Her face had gone white. Her eyes were locked on the photo on her phone screen.
Caroline was chairman?
Damon had given her his shares?
How could she... how was that possible?
It couldn't be.
The Neville Group had been gutted. The accounts were a disaster.
Damon was barely holding on himself. Where would he get shares to give Caroline?
And even if he did, they'd be worthless, buried in debt.
Unless...
A thought struck her like ice water.
Unless someone had stepped in and filled the hole, stabilized the company, and then handed it all to Caroline on a silver platter.
In all of Grandhaven, only one person had that kind of power.
Alexander.
"No... no, he wouldn't... he hates her... he hated her..."
Celeste's voice shook as she muttered to herself, trying to convince herself it wasn't true.
But she knew better.
Alexander's feelings for Caroline had changed. The signs had been there in those final days in Grandhaven.
That was why she and Isabella had fled in the first place.
She just hadn't expected this.
He'd pulled the Neville Group out of ruin, rebuilt it from the ground up, and handed it to Caroline without a second thought.
What about them?
The money they'd taken. The schemes they'd orchestrated.
How much did Alexander know? Was he already investigating?
Celeste couldn't sit still. She lurched out of the tub, stumbling, grabbing a towel from the rack and wrapping it haphazardly around herself before bolting for the door.
"Miss! The floor is slippery!"
The maid cried out, reaching to steady her.
"Don't touch me!"
Celeste was frantic now, her carefully maintained composure shattered.
She shoved the maid hard. "Useless! Get out of my way!"
The maid stumbled backward, hitting the vanity with a pained gasp. She didn't dare move after that, only watched in horror as Celeste, dripping wet and barefoot, fled the bathroom.
"Miss! Your shoes! Your clothes!"
The maid's voice cracked, but Celeste was already gone, disappearing around the corner of the staircase.
Celeste tore down the spiral staircase, clutching the towel to her chest, her wet feet slapping against the marble steps.
She burst into the first-floor sitting room like a woman possessed.
Isabella was speaking quietly with the butler when she heard the commotion. Both turned toward the sound.
They looked up just in time to see Celeste come barreling down the stairs in nothing but a towel.
"Celeste!"
Isabella recovered first. Her voice was sharp with anger and alarm.
"Look at yourself! What do you think you're doing? Running around in a towel--have you lost all sense of decency?"
She shot a pointed look at the butler, who had already averted his eyes, his face carefully blank. "Howard, leave us. Tell the staff to stay away from this area."
"Yes, ma'am."
Howard bowed quickly and retreated, clearly grateful for the escape.
Isabella stepped forward, taking in her daughter's soaked, trembling form. Her stomach dropped.
Something was very wrong.
"What happened? Why are you in such a state? Did the sky fall?"
"Mom, we're in trouble. Big trouble."
Celeste's legs buckled. She nearly collapsed.
She grabbed Isabella's arm with both hands, her words tumbling out in a frantic, incoherent rush.