Chapter Ten – Evidence

The room was dark except for the glow of multiple monitors.

Lines of data reflected in Ava’s eyes.

Lucas stood beside her, scrolling through mirrored logs.

“Three terabytes of recovered files,” he said.

“Emails. Contracts. Transfer confirmations. Voice recordings.”

Ava remained calm.

“Organize everything chronologically.”

Lucas nodded.

“Already sorting.”

On the main screen, a timeline began to form.

Year One.

Mark enters Reed Holdings.

Six months later—first shell company registered.

One year later—first large offshore transfer.

Two years later—Ava is framed for financial misconduct inside Reed Holdings.

Ava stared at that entry.

The moment her previous life began to collapse.

“They planned my fall long before it happened,” Ava said quietly.

Lucas nodded.

“They needed a scapegoat.”

Ava’s lips curved slightly.

“And they chose the woman who loved them most.”

Lucas did not respond.

He opened a folder.

Inside were recorded phone calls.

Mark and Lily.

Discussing forged documents.

Discussing how to plant evidence on Ava’s work computer.

Discussing how to manipulate internal investigators.

Ava listened in silence.

Her heart did not race.

Her hands did not shake.

Only clarity remained.

“Prepare three evidence packages,” Ava said.

Lucas glanced at her.

“Three?”

“One for Reed Holdings’ board.”

“One for financial regulators.”

“One… for Mark.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow.

“For Mark?”

“Yes,” Ava replied.

“I want him to know who destroyed him.”

Lucas nodded slowly.

Ava leaned back.

“Send the board’s package anonymously tomorrow morning.”

Lucas typed rapidly.

“Regulators?”

“Tomorrow night.”

Lucas paused.

“And Mark’s package?”

Ava’s eyes darkened.

“When he proposes again.”

Lucas smirked.

“Cold.”

Ava did not deny it.

Meanwhile, across the city, Mark and Lily sat in Lily’s apartment.

Multiple laptops were open.

Sweat dotted Mark’s forehead.

“Why isn’t it working?” Lily whispered.

Mark slammed the keyboard.

“I wiped the folders.”

Lily shook her head.

“Some logs won’t delete.”

Mark’s face twisted.

“System backups.”

Lily’s hands trembled.

“Mark… what if someone is mirroring our data?”

Mark froze.

“Impossible.”

But fear had already crawled into his chest.

His phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

A single message:

Stop deleting. It’s already too late.

Mark’s blood ran cold.

“Lily,” he whispered.

“What?” Lily asked.

“Someone knows.”

Lily grabbed his arm.

“Who?”

Mark stared at the screen.

The message disappeared.

His phone rang.

Unknown number again.

Mark answered.

Silence.

Then a distorted voice:

“Every file you touch is recorded.”

The call ended.

Mark’s legs felt weak.

Lily began to cry.

“We’re finished,” she whispered.

“No,” Mark said harshly.

“We still control the narrative.”

“How?”

“We blame Ava.”

Lily looked up.

“Yes. She’s convenient.”

Mark nodded.

“We say she stole company data. We say she’s blackmailing us.”

Lily wiped her tears.

“But… do we have proof?”

Mark hesitated.

Then smiled slowly.

“We’ll create it.”

At Kane Estate, Ava received Lucas’s message.

They’re planning to frame you again.

Ava’s lips curved faintly.

“Good.”

Lucas looked at her.

“Good?”

“The more they struggle…”

Ava’s eyes gleamed.

“The worse it gets for them.”

Lucas leaned back.

“They’re walking exactly where you want them.”

Ava stood.

“Prepare legal counsel.”

Lucas nodded.

“Already contacted.”

Ava looked out the window.

“In my last life, I died alone.”

“This time…”

She turned.

“They will not die.”

“They will beg.”

Lucas exhaled slowly.

The storm was approaching.

And Ava was ready.