Chapter 185: Confession

Castle showed no sign of easing the pressure on the anxious Winston Wellesley. He knew that to uncover the truth from ten years ago, Winston had to be cornered into a confession. Only then could he erase Blake's lingering suspicions and provide a solid foundation for solving the case.

Castle's plan was twofold. First, he needed to shatter any hopes Winston had of concealing the truth about Olivia's death. Once Winston's psychological defenses were down, he would push Beckett, who had been a mere observer so far, into the spotlight. Although Castle had taken the lead, this was ultimately police business, and he needed to transition it back to the authorities.

With this in mind, Castle relentlessly dismantled Winston's façade, exposing his empty bravado. "We already know that ten years ago, Olivia came to New York to find her biological father. At the family's party that night, it was you who lied to her, persuading her to leave. But shortly after she returned to her rented place, she was brutally attacked and killed.

Mr. Winston Wellesley, if you didn't know Olivia, why did you pay for such a lavish coffin for her? Can you explain that? Or would you prefer that we bring in the witness who saw you speaking with Olivia that night?"

Castle's unyielding approach left Winston drenched in cold sweat. His panicked expression and inability to stop sweating clearly indicated he was hiding something. Both Beckett, a seasoned investigator, and Blake, Winston's politically savvy brother, could easily read the signs.

Everyone present understood that Winston's denials meant he knew much more about the case than he was letting on. Yet, Blake didn't press his brother to reveal the truth, and Beckett was uncertain of the evidence Castle had up his sleeve, leaving her unable to intervene.

Maintaining his composed demeanor, Castle seemed ready to reveal everything. However, he knew he had to tread carefully. Revealing too much could expose the uncertain sources of his information and implicate Blake's mother, who was also involved. Thus, Castle shifted his tone, easing the pressure on Winston. He spoke softly, almost sympathetically, to the nearly crumbling Winston, "Mr. Winston Wellesley, I think you now understand that continuing to hide the truth from your brother is futile. For the sake of your relationship with him, would you prefer if I explained what happened, or will you tell your brother yourself?"

Beckett, who had been anxious about Castle's approach, now admired his strategic retreat. This move would mitigate any negative impression Blake had from Castle's earlier aggressive tactics.

Beaten into a corner by Castle's relentless questioning, Winston lifted his head in despair. Seeing his brother's angry glare, he realized there was no way out but to confess. If he didn't, Castle or his brother would uncover everything anyway. Feeling defeated, Winston let out a heavy sigh, his body language showing his resignation to the inevitable. He glanced at Beckett and, in a subdued voice, said, "Ask what you want. I'll tell you everything."

Recognizing that Castle's uncharacteristic aggression was to give her a platform, Beckett didn't hesitate. She went straight to the heart of the matter, asking the question that weighed on everyone's mind, especially Blake's, "Did you murder Olivia ten years ago?"

Though his defenses had crumbled, Winston was fully aware of the gravity of the accusation. Killing his brother's unknown daughter was not something he would take lightly. Shaking his head, he replied, "No, it wasn't me! At that time, Blake was in the middle of his critical Senate campaign. Olivia contacted me before the party at the Pearson Club. From her, I learned she was looking for her biological father. But her mother hadn't told her whether it was Blake or me. I informed our mother, and she instructed me to impersonate Olivia's father to keep her from causing a scandal during Blake's campaign."

Winston's disheartened confession left everyone stunned, except for Castle, who remained unperturbed. Beckett and Blake were shocked to learn that their mother was involved in the cover-up of Olivia's visit.

Blake, visibly upset, confronted his brother, "Winston, are you saying that Mother knew about this? That everyone except me knew I had a daughter, and you all kept me in the dark?"

Having resigned himself to his fate, Winston didn't shy away from his brother's anger. He responded with newfound vigor, "What choice did we have? You were in the most crucial phase of your Senate campaign. Should we have let you and Olivia meet and risk a scandal? You were running for the Senate! Imagine the voters learning you had an illegitimate daughter who showed up at the most critical moment. What were we supposed to do?"

Winston's outburst seemed to have shaken Blake, rendering him momentarily speechless. Even Beckett was taken aback by Winston's sudden shift from resignation to defiance. Castle, observing quietly, knew this was his cue to re-enter the conversation.

Stepping in, Castle coldly remarked, "So, according to you, deceiving Olivia, claiming to be her father, and standing by while she was murdered—all of this was for the sake of your family's reputation? Did you ever consider that Olivia was only twenty when she was killed, her whole life ahead of her, ended because you prioritized your family's so-called honor? Now that the truth is out, do you think your family's reputation is still intact?"

Winston's eyes, filled with a mix of guilt and defiance, shifted away from Castle's piercing gaze. His last remnants of resistance faded, leaving him to ponder the weight of his actions and the irreversible damage they had caused.

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