“You paid me $2,000 a month to marry Jonah in prison,” I said. “That’s true.”

Whispers spread through the room.

“But you didn’t choose me because I was loyal. You chose me because I had nothing.”

I held up her notebook.

“No active parents. Minor brother dependent. Behind on rent. Likely compliant.”

Celeste reached toward 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.”

Dean stood.

“She’s lying.”

I turned toward him.

“You moved money under Jonah’s name after he was already in custody. You let his $18,000 hide your $600,000.”

A board member stood.

“Dean, don’t leave.”

I faced Celeste again.

“You thought I was poor enough to rent and tired enough to erase. You were wrong about both.”