Chapter 11: The Woman Behind the Curtain
The woman stepped into the light.
Dean Eleanor Whitmore.
The head administrator of Westbridge University.
The person who had ignored my complaints.
The person who watched everything happen.
The person who now stood in my grandmother’s hiding place.
Nobody spoke.
Even Ethan looked surprised.
“You were involved,” he said.
Dean Whitmore sighed.
“I was involved in keeping the university from collapsing.””
My anger rose.
“By letting people destroy students?””
Her eyes moved to me.
“You think this is about Veronica?””
“No.””
I stepped forward.
“It’s about everyone who stayed silent.””
For a moment, her expression changed.
Almost like shame.
Almost.
“You don’t understand how powerful these people are.””
“Richard Hale?””
She nodded.
“And others.””
My grandmother looked at her.
“You helped them.””
Dean Whitmore looked away.
“I made mistakes.””
“People got hurt.””
“I know.””
The honesty was unexpected.
But it didn’t erase anything.
Ethan stepped closer.
“Why did you access the archive?””
Dean Whitmore looked at me.
“Because I knew Daniel left something behind.””
“The notebook.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because it contains names.””
The room went quiet.
“What names?””
She looked at the notebook.
“Everyone involved.””
My heartbeat increased.
“Then why not expose them?””
Her face changed.
“Because the moment I tried, my family received threats.””
She looked at me.
“I thought staying quiet would protect them.””
I laughed bitterly.
“That’s what everyone says.””
She lowered her eyes.
“I know.””
My grandmother looked at her.
“Who else is involved?””
Dean Whitmore hesitated.
That hesitation told me everything.
“Say it.””
She took a breath.
“Richard Hale.””
A pause.
“Several investors.””
Another pause.
“And someone at Sterling Global.””
Ethan became still.
“Who?””
Dean Whitmore looked at him.
“I don’t know.””
“You’re lying.””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“I only know they used company access codes.””
Ethan’s face hardened.
“Someone has been using my company.””
“Yes.””
The answer disturbed him.
Not because he was surprised.
Because he realized how close the person was.
Suddenly, my phone rang.
Everyone turned.
Unknown number.
I answered.
Nobody spoke.
Then a familiar voice came through.
Veronica.
“Hello, Amelia.””
My blood went cold.
“How did you get this number?””
She laughed softly.
“You still don’t understand.””
I walked away from the others.
“What do you want?””
“What I’ve always wanted.””
“And what is that?””
“To make sure people like you remember where they belong.””
I closed my eyes.
Even now.
Even after everything.
She still believed that.
“You lost, Veronica.””
“No.””
Her voice became colder.
“You found one piece of the puzzle.””
A pause.
“But you haven’t found the person who created it.””
I looked back at Ethan.
He was watching me carefully.
“What are you talking about?””
Veronica laughed.
“My father told me never to underestimate you.””
That surprised me.
“He did?””
“Yes.””
Her voice lowered.
“He said your father made one mistake.””
“What mistake?””
“He trusted someone who wanted to be a hero.””
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Then Ethan spoke.
“What did she say?””
I looked at him.
And suddenly I remembered my father’s warning.
The person pretending to save you.
I wanted to trust Ethan.
I needed to.
But now I had one question.
“What mistake did my father make?””
May you like
Ethan didn’t answer.
And that silence scared me more than any lie.
