Chapter 7 - THE TRUTH UNVEILED
The fake engagement made headline news across the nation within hours.
"FROM SERVANT TO SOVEREIGN: NATHANIEL CROSS ANNOUNCES ENGAGEMENT TO LATE FRIEND’S SECRET LOVER!"
The publicity was a masterstroke of defensive public relations. By framing the narrative as a noble love story and a protection of Julian Vance's rightful heir, Nathaniel turned public sentiment completely against the Vance family. The stock of Vance Pharmaceuticals plummeted as investors began questioning Richard Vance's sanity and morality in attempting to drag his own toddler granddaughter through the courts.
For three days, Cross Mansion became an impenetrable fortress. Private security guards patrolled the perimeter gates, keeping swarms of news reporters at bay.
Inside the quiet sanctuary of the mansion's upper wing, Elena sat at the small writing desk in Nathaniel's private library. Spread out before her were the original encrypted flash drives she had recovered from Julian’s old apartment years ago.
Nathaniel walked in, carrying two cups of steaming tea. He placed one beside her and pulled up a chair.
"Our IT security team managed to crack the second level of encryption on Julian's drive," Nathaniel said quietly. "Elena... you were right about everything."
Elena looked up, her stomach twisting into a knot. "What did they find?"
Nathaniel opened his laptop and turned the screen toward her. On it was a series of internal emails and audio logs recorded by Julian Vance just weeks before his fatal car crash.
Julian’s voice echoed softly through the laptop speakers—distorted, trembling, but unmistakable:
“If anything happens to me, let it be known that my father, Richard Vance, has been intentionally falsifying human clinical trial data for the new neurological drug NX-9. The drug causes fatal brain hemorrhages in twelve percent of test subjects. He plans to dump the production costs into Cross Enterprises through the upcoming merger to avoid liability. I am taking the core files to the federal prosecutor tomorrow morning.”
Elena covered her mouth, tears welling in her eyes as she heard the voice of the man she had loved five years ago. "He knew... Julian knew his father was going to poison innocent people."
"And that's why Richard had him eliminated," Nathaniel said, his voice cold with righteous anger. "The crash wasn't an equipment failure. Julian’s brake lines were remotely tampered with via the car's electronic control unit. It was murder."
Elena gripped the edge of the desk, her knuckles white. "We have to take this to the federal authorities immediately."
"We will," Nathaniel agreed. "But Richard knows the net is closing in on him. He's desperate. And a desperate predator is when he's most dangerous."
At that exact moment, down in the mansion's basement utility room, Arthur, the elderly butler, was checking the secondary electrical panels.
Suddenly, a shadow detached itself from the corner wall. A heavy, gloved hand clamped tightly over Arthur's mouth, while a silver blade glinted under the dim light bulb.
"Don't make a sound, old man," whispered a dark, rough voice. It was one of the private enforcement operatives hired by Richard Vance, having bypassed the perimeter fence by sneaking through the old drainage tunnels beneath the estate. "Tell me where the child's room is, or I will end you right here."
Arthur, despite his age and frailty, glared at the intruder with fierce loyalty. "You'll find nothing here but your own ruin, coward."
The intruder struck Arthur across the temple with the butt of a silenced pistol, sending the old man collapsing unconscious to the concrete floor.
May you like
The assassin checked his tactical radio. "Infiltration complete. Moving up to the primary living quarters. Target: the maid's child and the drive."
Over the radio, Richard Vance's cold, merciless voice crackled back: "No witnesses this time. Burn the wing if you have to. I want those files erased forever."
