Chapter 4: The Evidence On The Screen
The man holding the phone looked like he had just delivered terrible news.
The ballroom fell silent as he walked toward me.
Every person who had been whispering seconds earlier suddenly wanted to hear what he had to say.
“Mr. Carter,” he said quietly.
“I apologize for interrupting, but this cannot wait.””
I looked at the phone in his hand.
“What happened?””
He glanced at Brooke and Chad.
Then back at me.
“It concerns the acquisition documents you asked us to review.””
Brooke’s expression changed.
“Acquisition?””
Chad stepped forward.
“What does that have to do with us?””
The man didn’t answer him.
He handed me the phone.
On the screen was a series of financial records.
Transfers.
Contracts.
Messages.
My eyes moved across the information slowly.
For a moment, I felt nothing.
Then I saw the date.
The date my accident happened.
The date my entire life changed.
My fingers tightened around the phone.
Isabella noticed.
“Sir?””
I didn’t respond immediately.
Because suddenly, the last year started looking different.
Everyone thought my accident was a tragedy.
But what if it had been an opportunity for someone else?
I scrolled further.
There it was.
A payment.
A large payment.
Sent from an account connected to Chad’s company.
My stomach dropped.
Brooke noticed my reaction.
“What is it?””
I looked at her.
“Why don’t you tell me?””
Her face went pale.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.””
The room became tense.
Chad laughed nervously.
“This is ridiculous. You’re bringing private business issues into a charity event?””
I looked at him.
“You’re right.””
I turned toward the guests.
“This isn’t a business issue.””
I raised the phone slightly.
“It’s a trust issue.””
A few guests looked at each other.
The man who brought the phone spoke again.
“We discovered several unusual transactions connected to accounts controlled by Mr. Chad Wilson.””
Chad’s confidence disappeared.
“That’s impossible.””
The man continued.
“There were also communications between Mr. Wilson and someone close to you before the accident.””
Brooke immediately looked away.
That tiny movement told me more than words ever could.
I had spent months wondering why Brooke changed so suddenly.
Why she stopped visiting.
Why she started talking about my condition like it was a problem.
Why Chad appeared everywhere after she ended our engagement.
Now, the pieces were starting to connect.
“Brooke,” I said.
She looked at me.
“What?””
I walked closer.
Not angrily.
Not emotionally.
Just calmly.
“Were you planning to leave me before the accident?””
Her eyes filled with panic.
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
Everyone heard it.
Chad looked uncomfortable.
I continued.
“Then why did you tell Chad things about my company?””
Her mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
The room became colder.
Isabella watched quietly.
She didn’t know my entire story.
But she understood enough.
“You trusted them,” she whispered.
I looked at her.
“Yes.””
She looked toward Brooke.
“And they hurt you.””
I looked back at the screen.
“I don’t know the full truth yet.””
Chad suddenly raised his voice.
“This is insane. Ethan, you’re letting your emotions control you.””
I smiled slightly.
“My emotions?””
I held up the phone.
“These are not emotions.””
I pointed at the documents.
“These are records.””
The crowd shifted.
People who had laughed earlier were now avoiding eye contact.
Because they realized something uncomfortable.
They had judged me without knowing anything.
Brooke stepped closer.
“Ethan, please.””
That word surprised me.
Please.
After months of silence.
After she pushed me away in front of everyone.
Now she wanted a conversation.
“What do you want to say?””
She looked around.
The confident woman from earlier was gone.
“I made mistakes.””
I waited.
She swallowed.
“But I never wanted to hurt you.””
I looked at her.
“Then why did you?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
Before she could answer, Chad grabbed her arm.
“Don’t say anything.””
The room noticed.
So did I.
I looked at his hand on her arm.
Then at his face.
“You’re afraid of what she might tell me.””
Chad released her.
“No.””
I stepped back.
“Then let her speak.””
Brooke looked at him.
For the first time that night, she looked uncertain about him.
The man with the phone suddenly checked another notification.
His expression changed again.
“Mr. Carter…”
I turned.
“What now?””
He hesitated.
Then showed me the screen.
“It’s about the person who authorized the transfer.””
I looked down.
And saw a name.
A name I never expected.
May you like
A name that made Brooke cover her mouth in shock.
Because the person behind everything was not who I thought.
