lia

of the narrative Cameron had so meticulously crafted. She' d sweep in, perfectly coiffed and impeccably dressed, reporters trailing her like

ch a respected compliance officer, losing his position all those years ago right after... well, you know. It must have taken such a toll on him, being implicated in that whole unfortunate mess." She paused d

nsion gone. I always assumed it was collateral damage from my own public shaming, a cruel ripple effect. He was my father, a

"implicated" and "compliance officer," str

t standards Cameron had so gleefully trampled. He wasn't just "implicated"; he was destroyed. And Hailee, by subtl

own humiliation, that I missed a crucial piece of the puzzle? What if Gilbert wasn

. I hailed a cab, my mind racing. I needed a

e receptionist, my steps purposeful, my heart thumping a furious rhythm against my ribs. I pu

re of surprise and irritation. He immediately dismissed his assistant wit

aced with caution. "To what do

age. "His 'implication.' His 'scandal.' Was he just col

ine, a tell-tale sign I remembered all too well. He composed himself quickly. "Emilia, w

document. It was a copy of the internal compliance review report from ten years ago, something my father had managed to hold onto, a last scrap of his inte

his anonymous tip, Cameron. I recognized it. It's yours. The same looping 'C,' the distinctive slant of the 's.' You

g the familiar script. For a moment, the mask slipped entirely. I saw fear,

emotion. "Gilbert was too ethical. He would have uncovered

hed into fists, trembling. "You destroyed him! You ruined hi

icker of his old arrogance returning. "Don't you un

You stole my life, and then you broke my father's heart and body just to make more money. How much more did you hide?" My

uickly as it came. I remembered the young Cameron, the one who would protec

desk. "Emilia, please. Let me

ard, my body screaming in disgust at

surface of his desk. He glanced at it, then back at me. It buz

y sharp, laced with genuine concern. "What?

ous Hailee, was in some kind of distress, and that immediately

ve to go, Emilia. We'll discuss this later." And with that

truth, all meant nothing. My pain was a minor inconvenience, easily discarded for the more urgent, more important needs of his current life. The she