Chapter 12: The Alliance Nobody Expected
Victor Hale left without taking the flash drive.
That frightened me more than if he had tried to steal it.
Because powerful people don't always need force.
Sometimes they believe time is on their side.
After he left, Serena remained silent.
I looked at her.
"Start talking.""
She didn't argue.
For once.
She sat down.
"You want the truth?""
"Yes.""
"Even if it changes everything?""
"Especially then.""
She nodded.
"Victor Hale built his empire by collecting brilliant people's work.""
I listened.
"Researchers. Scientists. Doctors.""
"My research.""
"Yes.""
"And Julian?""
"He was weak.""
The honesty surprised me.
"He wanted success. He wanted recognition.""
She looked away.
"And Victor knew exactly how to use that.""
I looked at the folder she left.
"What is inside?""
"Everything.""
I opened it.
Financial records.
Contracts.
Emails.
Names.
Hundreds of pages.
And one name appeared repeatedly.
Julian Whitmore.
My hands tightened.
"Why is his name everywhere?""
Serena sighed.
"Because Julian wasn't only a victim.""
I looked at her.
"He helped them.""
The words hurt because they matched what I feared.
"But later he tried to stop them.""
"Why?""
"Because of you.""
I froze.
"Me?""
"He realized what they were doing with your research.""
She looked at me.
"He realized he destroyed the one person who truly believed in him.""
I looked away.
That was the cruelest part.
Because a small part of me still wanted that to be true.
I wanted to believe there was something good left.
But wanting something doesn't make it real.
"What happened the night he collapsed?""
Serena became quiet.
Finally, she answered.
"Julian was going to expose Victor.""
"Where?""
"At my apartment.""
"Why there?""
"Because he thought nobody would suspect us.""
I almost laughed.
"Smart.""
"No.""
She looked at me.
"Desperate.""
I stared at her.
"So what happened?""
"Victor found out.""
The room became silent.
"He came to my apartment.""
My eyes widened.
"You were there?""
"Yes.""
"What happened?""
Serena looked down.
"He and Julian argued.""
"About the evidence?""
"Yes.""
"Then?""
She took a breath.
"Julian refused to cooperate.""
"And Victor?""
"He left.""
I frowned.
"Then how did Julian collapse?""
Serena's expression changed.
"I don't know.""
I studied her carefully.
"You expect me to believe that?""
"No.""
Her answer was immediate.
"I expect you to investigate.""
The honesty caught me off guard.
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
It was Detective Mason.
I answered.
"Detective?""
"Mrs. Whitmore.""
His voice was serious.
"We found something.""
"What?""
"The medication found in your husband's system.""
I waited.
"It came from a prescription registered under your name.""
My blood ran cold.
"What?""
"The records show Dr. Clara Whitmore prescribed it.""
Impossible.
"I didn't.""
"I know.""
His voice lowered.
"That's why I'm calling before making anything official.""
I looked at Serena.
She looked just as shocked.
"Someone used my identity.""
"Yes.""
A pause.
"And we found another problem.""
"What?""
"The prescription was created three months ago.""
I felt the room spin.
Three months.
Someone had planned this.
Long before Julian collapsed.
Long before tonight.
Detective Mason continued:
"Mrs. Whitmore...""
"Yes?""
"Someone has been building a case against you.""
I looked at the evidence scattered across the table.
The stolen research.
The fake prescription.
The attempted murder.
Everything connected.
Someone wasn't just trying to hurt Julian.
They were preparing to destroy me.
And suddenly...
I understood the real target.
May you like
It was never Julian.
It was me.
