Chapter 10: The File That Changed Everything
The entire ballroom felt like it was holding its breath.
Hundreds of people had just watched a video designed to destroy the woman I loved.
And the worst part was that Adrian had succeeded.
Not because I believed him.
But because a small part of me was asking the same question.
Why had Maya taken my grandfather’s trust documents?
Why had she hidden it?
Why had she walked into my family’s office before I even knew her name?
Maya looked at me.
I saw the pain in her eyes.
Not anger.
Not guilt.
Pain.
“Jalen, I need you to listen before you decide anything.””
I swallowed.
“Then tell me.””
She nodded.
“The file I took wasn’t the original.””
Everyone looked confused.
My father stepped forward.
“What do you mean?””
Maya reached into her purse and pulled out a small drive.
“This.””
She held it up.
“I copied the information because I needed proof.””
My mother stared at her.
“You copied confidential documents?””
“Yes.””
“That is still wrong.””
Maya looked at her.
“I know.””
Her answer surprised everyone.
She wasn’t trying to justify herself.
She was admitting it.
“But if I had gone to you with only suspicion, what would have happened?””
Nobody answered.
Because we all knew.
My mother would have defended Adrian.
My father would have demanded evidence.
And Adrian would have had time to erase everything.
My father looked at the drive.
“What was on it?””
Maya looked at me.
“The truth about why Adrian targeted you.””
My stomach tightened.
“Explain.””
She took a breath.
“Your grandfather didn’t only create a condition for your inheritance.””
She looked at my father.
“He created a protection system.””
My father frowned.
“A protection system?””
“Yes.””
Maya nodded.
“The trust wasn’t designed to give Jalen control after marriage. It was designed to prevent someone from forcing him into a marriage or partnership for financial reasons.””
The room became silent.
My father looked shocked.
“He knew someone might try.””
“Yes.””
Maya turned toward me.
“Your grandfather knew your family’s wealth could attract the wrong people.””
I looked down.
All these years, I thought my grandfather left me money.
But he had left me protection.
“Then why didn’t anyone tell me?””
My father looked away.
“I didn’t know the full details.””
My mother whispered:
“I did.””
Everyone turned.
My mother closed her eyes.
“I knew there were additional conditions.””
My voice became cold.
“And you didn’t tell me?””
“I thought it would create distrust.””
I stared at her.
“You mean you thought I would ask questions.””
She didn’t answer.
That was enough.
Maya stepped closer.
“There’s more.””
She plugged the drive into a laptop from the event staff.
The screen displayed several files.
Emails.
Transactions.
Communication records.
My father leaned closer.
Then his face changed.
“What is that?””
Maya pointed.
“Payments.””
“To who?””
She looked at him.
“Adrian.””
My father’s jaw tightened.
“How much?””
Maya showed him.
The amount made several people gasp.
Corinne covered her mouth.
“He was paid?””
Maya nodded.
“For months.””
“By who?”” I asked.
Maya hesitated.
That hesitation scared me.
“Jalen…”
“Who?””
She looked at the screen.
“The payments came through a private account.””
My father stared.
“Whose account?””
Maya clicked another file.
The name appeared.
Nobody moved.
Because it belonged to someone in the room.
Someone who had been defending Adrian all night.
Someone who had just watched their own family collapse.
My mother whispered:
“No.””
I looked at her.
“Mom?””
She looked at the screen.
Her face went pale.
“I don’t know that account.””
My father looked at her.
“Rochelle.””
“I swear.””
Maya studied the information.
“Someone used your identity.””
My mother looked up.
“What?””
“The account is connected to your name, but the access records show someone else.””
My father’s anger shifted into confusion.
“Who?””
Maya opened the final file.
The access record appeared.
One name.
One person.
My heart stopped.
Because it wasn’t Adrian.
It wasn’t my mother.
It wasn’t anyone we had suspected.
The person who accessed my mother’s account…
Was me.
I stared at the screen.
“No.””
Maya looked at me.
“Jalen…”
“That’s impossible.””
My father grabbed the laptop.
“What does this mean?””
Maya’s voice lowered.
“It means someone has been using your identity.””
The room went silent.
Then my phone buzzed.
Another message.
This time from Adrian.
*You finally found the part where you become the villain.*
I looked at the screen.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
*Ask yourself why your fingerprints were found on the documents.*
