Chapter 10 — The Evidence Nobody Expected
Chapter 10 — The Evidence Nobody Expected
The folder sat on the table between them.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
The entire room felt like it was holding its breath.
Marcus Reed stood across from Alexander, waiting.
For years, Marcus had been the person Alexander trusted most outside his own family.
He had protected the Hawthornes through countless threats.
He had handled security during difficult times.
He had earned his place beside them.
But now…
one question remained.
Could he still be trusted?
Alexander reached for the folder.
“What is this?”
Marcus answered calmly.
“The evidence needed to prove the foundation was framed.”
Thomas watched him carefully.
“Or the evidence you want us to believe.”
Marcus looked at Thomas.
“I expected you to say that.”
Thomas stepped closer.
“You disappeared for twelve years and returned with accusations. You expect everyone to trust you?”
“And you expect everyone to ignore the fact that you vanished because you were afraid of the truth?”
The tension between the two men filled the room.
Alexander immediately stepped between them.
“Enough.”
Both men stopped.
“This family has been divided enough.”
He looked at Marcus.
“Explain.”
Marcus opened the folder.
Inside were copies of financial records, communication logs, and transaction histories.
“The money that was supposedly stolen from the foundation was never taken by the Hawthornes.”
Alexander studied the documents.
“Then where did it go?”
Marcus pointed to several transactions.
“Through a series of fake companies.”
Thomas looked at the names.
His expression changed.
“These companies…”
“Yes,” Marcus said.
“They were created by someone else.”
Thomas looked at Alexander.
“The same companies I found twelve years ago.”
Alexander turned toward Marcus.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Marcus hesitated.
That hesitation worried everyone.
“Because I didn’t have enough proof.”
Thomas narrowed his eyes.
“Or because you were protecting someone?”
Marcus looked hurt.
“After everything I’ve done for this family, that’s what you think?”
Thomas didn’t answer.
Because suspicion had already damaged every relationship in the room.
Later that afternoon, Alexander reviewed the documents with his legal team.
The evidence was strong.
Someone had clearly manipulated the foundation’s records.
But one question remained.
Who?
The investigation pointed toward a network of companies connected to old business partners.
Including one name that appeared repeatedly.
Whitmore Holdings.
Alexander stared at the document.
Victoria.
Again.
He had expected her to attack him.
But he never imagined she would be connected to something from twelve years ago.
Meanwhile, Clara noticed something unusual.
Eleanor had been quiet all day.
Too quiet.
She found her in the old family room, looking through Thomas’s notebook.
“Eleanor?”
The elderly woman looked up.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For bringing you into this.”
Clara sat beside her.
“You didn’t.”
“Yes, I did.”
Eleanor closed the notebook.
“You were just doing your job when you protected me.”
Clara smiled.
“And I would do it again.”
Eleanor looked at her.
“Even knowing what happened afterward?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Clara thought for a moment.
“Because doing the right thing doesn’t become wrong just because it becomes difficult.”
Eleanor smiled.
“That is exactly why Alexander trusts you.”
Clara looked surprised.
“He trusts me?”
“Yes.”
The older woman gently touched her hand.
“More than he admits.”
That evening, Alexander found Clara in the hallway.
“Clara.”
She turned.
“Yes?”
“I owe you an apology.”
She looked confused.
“For what?”
“For putting you in danger.”
Clara shook her head.
“You didn’t.”
“Yes, I did.”
Alexander looked toward the security guards outside.
“My family’s problems have become your problems.”
Clara smiled slightly.
“I chose to help.”
He studied her.
“You always say that.”
“Because it’s true.”
For a moment, Alexander forgot about the investigation.
Forgot about Victoria.
Forgot about the betrayal.
He saw only someone who reminded him that trust was still possible.
Then his phone rang.
The moment he answered, his expression changed.
“What?”
A pause.
“Where?”
Clara immediately noticed.
“What happened?”
Alexander looked at her.
“It’s Thomas.”
They found Thomas in the underground archive room.
The same place where the hidden files had been discovered.
He was standing in front of an old cabinet.
The door was open.
Inside was nothing.
Alexander walked closer.
“What happened?”
Thomas looked at him.
“Someone removed the original documents.”
Marcus checked the room.
“When?”
Thomas answered.
“Before we arrived.”
Alexander looked frustrated.
“So they knew.”
Thomas nodded.
“They always know.”
Clara looked around.
“How?”
Nobody answered.
Then everyone slowly realized the terrifying possibility.
Someone inside the palace was feeding information to the enemy.
Suddenly, Marcus’s radio made a sound.
A security alert.
“Movement detected near the east entrance.”
Everyone turned.
Marcus grabbed his weapon and moved quickly.
Alexander followed.
They reached the entrance moments later.
The door was open.
Cold air rushed inside.
On the floor was another envelope.
Alexander picked it up.
Inside was a photograph.
A recent photograph.
Taken inside Hawthorne Palace.
Everyone stared.
Because the picture showed Alexander, Thomas, Eleanor, and Clara together.
The photo had been taken only hours earlier.
Someone had been watching them.
Very close.
On the back of the photograph was a message.
“You are looking for a traitor.”
A pause.
Then another line.
“But you haven’t noticed the person standing beside you.”
Everyone looked around.
At each other.
At the people they trusted.
May you like
And for the first time…
even family felt like a possible enemy.
