Chapter 8 - The Night The Evidence Disappeared
The security footage was gone.
The one thing that could prove everything.
Gone.
I felt like someone had pulled the ground from beneath me.
For days, that camera had been my hope.
My protection.
My proof.
Now someone had destroyed it.
But there was one thing they didn’t know.
I had copied part of it.
The moment I realized the camera existed, I had saved a backup.
Not everything.
But enough.
Enough to expose Brooklyn.
Enough to prove the truth.
The problem was…
I didn’t know who else was involved.
That night, Callan stayed at Emma’s apartment.
Not because I trusted him.
I didn’t.
But because he was the only person who could help me understand his family.
We sat at the kitchen table.
Three people.
One truth.
And a family full of secrets.
“Tell me about Victoria.”
Callan became quiet.
“She was my father’s business partner’s daughter.”
“Your family wanted you to marry her?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because her family controlled investments that could save Harrington Holdings.”
I laughed bitterly.
“So your family was selling your life to save money.”
He looked down.
“Yes.”
“And when you met me?”
“I thought I finally escaped.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No.”
His voice became quiet.
“I brought you into the middle of it.”
I looked at him.
For the first time, I saw real regret.
Not fear of losing control.
Not fear of losing money.
Actual regret.
But regret didn’t erase what happened.
Then Emma walked into the room holding her laptop.
“I found something.”
We immediately looked at her.
She turned the screen around.
A company record appeared.
“Harrington Security Systems.”
“What is that?”
“A private security company owned by Melissa.”
I frowned.
“Why does that matter?”
Emma pointed at the document.
“Because the person who deleted the camera footage…”
“Was an employee from this company.”
Silence.
Callan stood up.
“That’s impossible.”
Emma looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because only family members have access.”
My stomach tightened.
“Then someone in the family ordered it.”
Nobody spoke.
The answer was obvious.
The next morning, we returned to the Harrington mansion.
Not because I wanted to.
Because we needed answers.
The moment we entered, Melissa was waiting.
She looked at Callan.
“You brought her back?”
Callan stepped forward.
“She deserves the truth.”
Melissa laughed softly.
“The truth?”
“You have no idea what that word means.”
I stared at her.
“Then tell me.”
“Tell me why your family tried to destroy me.”
Melissa looked at me.
Then she said something I never expected.
“Because your marriage was a mistake.”
My eyes narrowed.
“Explain.”
She walked toward the window.
“Your father found something.”
I froze.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“What does my father have to do with this?”
Melissa looked at me.
“Your father and my husband were partners years ago.”
I felt confused.
“My father owns a hardware store.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Your father used to work with us.”
The room went silent.
“That’s impossible.”
Melissa looked directly into my eyes.
“Your family changed their name after what happened.”
I felt my heart racing.
“What happened?”
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she walked closer.
“Your father knows the truth about my husband’s death.”
I stepped back.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“And that is why you were brought into this family.”
I stared at her.
“I don’t understand.”
Melissa whispered,
“Callan didn’t find you by accident.”
My blood turned cold.
“What are you saying?”
Before she could answer…
The front door opened.
A woman walked inside.
Elegant.
Confident.
Familiar.
Callan’s face immediately changed.
“No.”
The woman smiled.
“Hello, Callan.”
He looked terrified.
“Victoria.”
The woman who was supposed to marry my husband had arrived.
And she was holding a folder.
May you like
A folder with my name on it.
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