Chapter Seventy

Damian's last words hovered over the archive chamber.

None of them could be sure whose narrative they were hearing until they found where the records had vanished.

Emily glanced at him and said, "What are we going to do about everything that is happening between us as we continue to seek answers?"

Damian's expression changed. He realized that she was no longer discussing the missing paperwork.

"Emily, this is not the right place nor the time," Damian said quietly.

"When I ask you anything that counts, that's always your response," Emily said. "You need time to sort something out, whether it's a problem, a meeting, or something else."

From the other side of the table, Ryan watched them. Although his jealousy was obvious, he refrained from speaking this time.

Damian lowered his voice. "I'm trying to deal with issues that I never believed I would have to deal with."

Emily said, "I am as well." "I can't continue standing next to someone who stares at me as if I have to show my worthiness of his confidence," she continued.

Thomas averted his gaze, granting them whatever little privacy the jam-packed archives room allowed.

Damian seemed ready to grasp her, but he stopped himself.

"I didn't want you to feel that way," he replied.

"There's a distinction between desiring something and actually making it occur," Emily replied.

Sophia's phone rang before Damian could answer. She looked at the screen, then walked away to answer the phone.

"Hello, this is Sophia Hart," she replied.

The call lasted less than a minute. Her face had turned pale by the time she returned.

"What happened?" Emily asked.

"The legal department of Knight Global sent my office an official alert," Sophia said. "They are requesting that we surrender all copies of the Project Eclipse papers. They claim that the records were gathered illegally and include private business data."

Damian's face hardened. "Who signed it?"

"Victor Knight."

Ryan let out a short, hollow laugh. "He's aware we discovered something."

"He knows enough to be concerned," Damian responded.

Sophia turned to him. There's still more. The message states that we may be subject to litigation if we divulge any more information. Emily is specifically mentioned.

Emily sensed the impending threat.

Victor was no longer content to remain concealed behind outdated records. He was prepared to point right at her.

Even if Emily's fingers were gripping the edge of the table more firmly, she replied, "Let him sue me." "I'm not giving him proof about my parents just because he wants to intimidate me."

Damian faced her. "You won't have to take him on alone."

Emily examined him. She wished for a moment that she could believe those words would bridge the gap between them. Yet she always remembered the uncertainty in his eyes when discussing the baby's paternity.

"I need more than just defense, Damian," she stated. "When things become difficult, I need to know you won't begin to question me again."

He had a strained expression. "I have never stopped caring about you," Damian said.

"That's not what I asked," she said.

Ryan moved uneasily. He couldn't help but feel penalized watching Emily beg another guy for anything he hadn't provided her.

"There's no need to ask him to choose you again," Ryan said.

Emily spun quickly. "Ryan, I'm not requesting that anybody choose me. I'm making a decision about what I can accept."

Ryan noticed Damian's gaze. "Keep out of this," Damian said.

"Then stop making her promises to someone's wife," Ryan said in return.

Emily positioned herself in between them, but Damian came ahead.

"That's enough," she said. "Neither of you is allowed to make my life a competition."

Again, Sophia's phone vibrated. She gazed at the latest notification, and her brows furrowed.

She replied, "This was posted on the public announcements website of the Knight Global board." "Victor has called an urgent board meeting, and it is happening tomorrow morning."

Over her shoulder, Damian read the announcement.

The aim was to deal with a corporate secrecy breach and worries about the company's management.

Damian said, "He's getting ready to challenge my position."

Thomas carefully observed him. "Victor could attempt to eliminate you before anybody gets to read the records if he believes they pose a danger to him."

Damian clenched his jaw. "He's not going to have the chance."

"Don't underestimate him," Thomas warned. "He has been making others take the fall for his choices for years."

Damian glanced over from the statement. Victor was now attacking both of them: her through legal threats and Damian through the company he had worked so hard to establish.

Sophia extended her hands to Damian.

He looked at their clasped hands, and surprise briefly replaced the protective expression on his face. Emily didn't do it for him to trust her or console him regarding the baby. She did it because she wanted to be by his side, but she couldn't continue doing so without honesty.

"I'll meet Victor no matter what happens tomorrow," Emily declared. "But I'm not going to let this investigation break me apart while I wait for you to decide whether you trust in us."

Damian remained looking at her. "You shouldn't have to,"bhe said.

"Then show me," she replied.Across the table, Ryan diverted his gaze. But he realized he had no right to bring Emily back into a marriage he had already messed up, even though his hands were clenched at his sides.Damian's phone rang just as the group was about to exit the archive area. In silence, he picked it up and listened.

Then his expression changed."What do you mean the board has already received it?" Damian asked.He listened again for a few seconds."Who wrote the statement?" He asked. There was a little bit of hesitation. Damian gently lowered the phone.Sophia glanced at him. "What happened?""Victor has shared a document with the board," Damian said. “He claims that my father orchestrated the initial financial controversy.”The breath left Emily's lungs. Damian's father has been away for years. Victor was again using his name to protect himself.However, Damian's focus was fixed on just one line of the paper.The declaration purportedly included Damian's father's signature, confirming that Emily's father was the mastermind behind the fraudulent transfers.

A date that was three days before the death of Emily's parents was below the signature.

Thomas caught Damian's eye. "Is this the statement you mentioned to us?" He asked.

Thomas's complexion grew instantly pale as he gazed at the display. He muttered, "No." "I don't recall that statement." He then glanced at Emily. "Someone has changed it."