Nobela ni Ugonma

“I never said her name,” Lira said quickly. “I only mentioned someone using genuine friendship as cover.”“But you looked right at her,” Jessica said, watching Faith’s face crumple with hurt and disbelief.“I didn’t do anything,” Faith said, her voice shaking. “How many times do I have to prove myself to this family? I helped expose Barry. I met with Ellison only once, out of fear, and told you everything about it.”“Maybe that’s exactly what someone playing both sides would say,” Christian said, though uncertainty colored his voice now.“Or maybe I’m just an easy target because I already made mistakes once,” Faith snapped, anger breaking through her fear. “Every single time something goes wrong in this house, everyone looks at me first.”“That’s not fair,” Jessica started.“Isn’t it?” Faith interrupted. “I’ve spent months trying to prove myself, and the moment Lira mentions someone using friendship as cover, everyone assumes it’s me instead of considering other options.”The room fel

“Who sent that?” Christian asked, reading the cryptic warning over Jessica’s shoulder.“I don’t know,” Jessica said, staring at the unknown number. “But it’s not the same number Ellison’s been using.”“A second player,” Arnold said grimly. “Just what this situation needed.”“Maybe it’s a warning,” Jessica’s mother offered. “Someone trying to help us stay cautious.”“Or someone trying to make us distrust the evidence we just received,” Christian said. “Sow doubt so we hesitate to use it.”Jessica studied the documents spread across the table again, uncertainty creeping into her chest. “What if this whole package is a trap? What if using this evidence somehow backfires?”“We verify everything first,” Christian said firmly. “Before acting on any of it.”He picked up his phone, dialing a number Jessica didn’t recognize.“Who are you calling?” she asked.“An old friend,” Christian said. “Someone who used to work in financial crime investigation before starting his own private firm. If anyo

The prison visiting room smelled like bleach and old coffee. Christian sat across a metal table, waiting as guards led Matt in, his orange jumpsuit hanging loose on a frame thinner than Christian remembered.“Cousin,” Matt said, sitting down carefully. “This is unexpected.”“We need to talk,” Christian said, no warmth in his voice. “About Marcus Ellison.”Matt’s expression flickered, just slightly, but enough for Christian to notice.“I don’t know that name,” Matt said.“Don’t lie to me,” Christian snapped. “Not now. Someone is threatening my entire family, and evidence suggests you might have given him information about Jessica.”Matt’s shoulders sagged slightly. “I wondered when this conversation would happen.”“So it’s true.”“It’s complicated,” Matt said quietly. “Before my arrest, I was digging into everything about Jessica’s father, trying to find leverage against your marriage. I found old records mentioning debts, mentioning Ellison’s organization.”“And you contacted them,” C

“Who?” Jessica demanded. “Who gave him that information?”Arnold held up an old notebook, its pages yellowed with age. “I found this tucked away in my study. Notes I made right after your wedding, when Matt first started digging into your father’s history.”“You think Matt told Ellison about me?” Jessica asked, stunned. “He’s in prison.”“Prisoners can still make phone calls,” Christian said grimly. “Still send letters. If Matt learned about Ellison during his own research into your family, he might have reached out from inside, hoping to use the information against us somehow.”“Why would he do that?” Jessica asked. “He’s supposed to be reforming. He wants to meet with you, make things right.”“Or that’s exactly what he wants us to believe,” Christian said, his voice hardening, “while secretly working another angle from behind bars.”Jessica felt her stomach twist. Another betrayal, another layer of lies stacked on top of everything else.“We don’t know that for certain,” Arnold caut

“Someone’s pulling everything,” Christian said, staring at his laptop screen, fingers flying across the keyboard. “Client records, financial statements, shareholder information. All of it.”“Can you stop it?” Jessica asked, leaning over his shoulder.“Trying.” His jaw was tight with focus. “Whoever’s doing this knows exactly what they’re looking for. This isn’t random. This is targeted.”Arnold stood nearby, gripping his cane tightly. “Is it Tom?”“The access is coming from his credentials,” Christian confirmed. “But that doesn’t mean he’s the one physically doing it. Could be someone using his login remotely.”“Does it matter?” Jessica asked. “Either way, someone’s stealing everything right now while we sit here talking about it.”Christian’s hands stilled suddenly. “Got it. I’m cutting his access.”The download stopped mid transfer, the screen flashing red with a security alert.“Did we stop it in time?” Jessica asked.“Partial data,” Christian said grimly. “Enough got through to be

Jessica’s hands shook as she showed Christian the photo.“That could be old,” Christian said, though doubt colored his voice. “Taken before she helped us with Matt.”“Or it could mean everything she told us was a lie,” Jessica said. “Faith knew exactly when to show up with information about Barry. What if that was never about guilt? What if it was about earning our trust first?”Christian was already dialing a number. “I’m calling her right now.”Faith answered on the third ring, her voice bright and casual. “Christian? Is everything okay?”“Where are you right now?” Christian asked, his voice carefully controlled.A pause. “Home. Why? What’s wrong?”“We need to talk. Tonight. Come to the house immediately.”“Christian, you’re scaring me. What happened?”“Just come,” Christian said, ending the call before she could ask anything else.Faith arrived thirty minutes later, her face pale with worry as security escorted her into the office. The moment she saw Jessica’s expression, her confu