Mag-log inAVAThe heap of paper trails led me to the one person I had suspected all along.Vera.Ever since the realization hit me, I had not moved. I had done nothing but wait, my mind streaming with thoughts. What? Who? Why?I had the answer to the first two. I knew Father had made the transfers. I knew they had gone to Vera's family. But the question that hung thick in the air now was why.I was so consumed by the question that I almost felt myself choke on my own thoughts. I took a minute to breathe, my heart rate slowing even though my head still throbbed like I had taken a sledgehammer to the side of my skull.I did not move. I clutched the side of my face as though letting go would send my thoughts scattering apart. Gradually the throb faded until only a ghost of it remained. The pain was gone, but because I kept turning it over in my mind, it still felt present.Even then, the question was still there, hanging in the room with countless variations to follow. Yet it was a question that w
AVAThe silence between us made it feel almost as if he wanted me to believe he had turned to stone where he stood. Aside from that, I could only assume his quiet meant he was overwhelmingly disappointed that I had ignored his warning and risked everything again."Kael," I started, but he did not answer. Instead, he drew in a deep breath and exhaled calmly, his eyes still watching me. Before I could get another word out, he walked up to me and took my hand in his. I barely had time to question what he meant to do, my body yielding because I felt no danger radiating from him. Kael pulled me closer, close enough that my gaze held steady with his, and then he said, "Come with me."My eyebrows shot up in surprise. This was the last thing I expected after that quiet standoff. But somehow it felt right. I did not argue or resist. I only switched off my phone light and did as he said."Where are we going?" I asked, when he led me further into the archive, into places I had not even planned t
AVA"Miss Ava, I do not understand what caused this sudden decision of yours. Please, can you explain, so I would have something to defend you with if questioned?" Amina asked, but her concern went beyond reason. I could tell she was more worried than she let on."I have a suspicion I want to check out. After that, I will come back. It is that simple," I said.Amina did not fully believe me. Or rather, she wanted to understand more than I was willing to give her."I do not think I can explain everything to you right now, Amina. But the fact is, someone is trying to hide something, and I do not intend to let them succeed. Just tell Mother I am asleep and do not wish to be disturbed."That left Amina standing in the hallway, watching me go."Miss Ava," the security guard greeted when he saw me approach. Unlike before, he said nothing about protocol. He simply readied the car I had asked for and handed me the keys."I will be back soon," I said, and drove off. My eyes stayed on the digi
AVA"Why did you not tell me she had left?" I asked, my eyes narrowing at Kael."Why did you not go after her?" he asked back."I was thinking about what she said," I explained. "So I expected you would break me through my haze if something was going to happen.""She left, Ava. She did not disappear," Kael said. "She is already your suspect, but I will advise you not to act rashly."Kael's warning settled over me again, and my defiant expression came right back. But he did not return my energy the way he had when we were seated earlier. He only looked at nothing in particular and said, "All this was not achieved in one day."It prompted me to look around the room, which had transformed into an after party. The hall was now filled with clusters of influential figures, glasses of wine in hand, soft music playing in the background while conversations hummed in low, measured tones."So I am not saying you should dare limits," Kael said. "I am saying you should tear down the ones that woul
AVA"You are trying to keep me in your protective little bubble, but I do not need that level of protection right now. I need...""More evidence," Kael finished for me. "But it is this kind of attitude that leads to you biting off more than you can chew.""Then maybe you should let me find out for myself," I said, the words coming out sharper than I intended.Kael's eyes narrowed in realization. He knew very well I was hinting at daring the same limits he had warned I had been careless about. The tension between us crackled.Kael's growl was low, barely audible, but there was a pull back, and his demeanor calmed instead of sharpening at my provocation."I have already warned you, Ava. Do not let it consume you," he said.I thinned my lips in contempt, already forming my next words, when his grip on my hand tightened. Not restrictive, not possessive... just a quiet warning that pulled my attention forward. He had known we would be called to the stage, so he took my hand in his, right
AVATonight's discovery had left me puzzled for almost an hour.My eyes split as deep concentration moved my gaze from my phone to the papers laid across my desk. Looking closer, I finally saw the deeper pattern hidden inside the numbers.It seemed I had not been looking for just one needle in a haystack, but something infinitely more complex. These transactions, even though separated on the surface, were part of the same puzzle.They were structured to remain entirely anonymous, a smokescreen to throw anyone off. But after Kael told me it was my father pulling the strings on one end, I had a starting point. Now, looking at the broader chain pattern, a terrifying picture emerged. Even though the corporate accounts were sending funds to entirely different shell locations, the math did not lie. At the end of every single month, every single dollar pooled right back into one single, unnamed master account.I blinked again, the math was absolutely on point. The evidence was lining up per
AVA***Two days after the Elders meeting***Father had not said much of anything to me since the meeting right after. He did not give me that lecture I thought I had coming. Instead he just left me with a look."Ava, I am very disappointed," father had said."And since you have decided to carry on
AVAThree hours was more than enough time for them to burn through their rage and settle into a tense silence. I was sure the flight had departed without them.For the first ten minutes, they had continued shouting through the wood, discussing my punishments and hurling warnings that I ignored. By
AVA"What do you mean?" Mother asked, confused.Father looked even more confused, but his expression morphed into frustration."Ava, speak clearly," Father said."Breathe, Ava. Don't rush it," Mother said, even though she looked more anxious than Father."Ever since I woke up, it feels like half of
AVA"Dorian, what is it?" I asked the moment I stepped into the registry."Just follow me," he said.He moved ahead and I kept up with my cane as closely as I could. He was considerate enough to pace himself without making it obvious that he was doing so, which I appreciated more than I said.It wa







