LOGINThe hallway outside the interrogation room feels heavier than before. The detective lowers the tablet slowly. No one speaks. Marcus finally exhales. “…so Margaret didn’t just manipulate people.” He looks at the tablet again. “She manipulated the entire crime scene.” The detective nods. “Yes.” Adrian’s voice remains calm. “Explain.” The detective gestures toward another officer down the hallway. A thick evidence folder is handed to him. “For the past three months,” he says, “our forensic team has been reconstructing the timeline surrounding the crash.” My pulse tightens. “And?” The detective opens the folder. “Every piece of evidence originally pointed to three people.” Marcus raises a brow. “Let me guess.” He starts counting with his fingers. “Eduardo Valez. Myself. And Adrian.” The detective nods. “Yes.” My stomach twists. My father. Adrian. Marcus. Every person closest to me. The detective spreads several photographs across the table beside us. “Margaret Lawson fabricat
The detective’s finger hovers over the tablet. The hallway outside the interrogation room is so quiet I can hear the faint hum of the ceiling lights. Marcus exhales slowly beside me. “…someone unexpected?” The detective nods. “Yes.” Adrian’s voice is calm, steady. “Play it.” The video resumes. The conference room flickers back onto the screen. Margaret Lawson stands across from my past self, her composure sharp as glass. Victor Salazar leans casually against the table, watching the two of us like the entire confrontation is entertainment. The tension between them is already breaking. Victor has said too much. Margaret knows it. And he knows she knows. Marcus mutters quietly. “This is where things get ugly.” In the video, Margaret turns toward Victor. “You’re finished here.” Victor smiles. “Oh?” Margaret’s eyes are cold. “You’ve outlived your usefulness.” Victor laughs softly. “That’s rich coming from you.” My past self watches both of them carefully now. The room feels u
The interrogation room is silent when the detective resumes the video. My pulse hasn’t slowed since Victor’s last words. You won’t remember this conversation tomorrow. Marcus folds his arms beside me, his usual sarcasm edged with unease. “…I’m beginning to dislike Victor even more.” The detective taps the screen. “This is the final part of the recording.” Adrian nods once. “Play it.” The video continues. Margaret Lawson stands rigid beside the table now. Victor Salazar watches her with thinly veiled amusement. And my past self looks between them with growing anger. “You’re both insane,” I say in the recording. Victor shrugs casually. “That’s subjective.” Margaret’s patience is gone now. “Victor,” she snaps quietly. But he only smiles. Because he knows something she doesn’t. And the camera captures the exact moment she realizes it. Victor glances toward the door. Then says something unexpected. “Your little plan at Reyes Holdings is impressive.” Margaret’s eyes narrow. “W
The detective’s words settle heavily in the hallway. This is the moment the crash was arranged. Marcus slowly straightens, his usual sarcasm edged with unease. “…well,” he mutters, “this might be the most important video evidence in corporate crime history.” Adrian doesn’t respond. His eyes remain fixed on the tablet in the detective’s hands. “Play it,” he says calmly. The detective nods. The video continues. The conference room appears again on the screen. Margaret Lawson stands near the table. Victor Salazar leans against the wall beside her. And my past self stands directly across from them. The tension between the three of us is sharp, suffocating. Marcus leans closer. “Okay, everyone. Let’s watch the villain planning session.” In the video, Margaret glances toward Victor. “You should leave.” Victor raises an eyebrow. “You just invited me to stay.” Margaret smiles faintly. “And now I’m asking you to go.” Victor studies her carefully. “You don’t trust me.” Margaret’s an
The hallway outside the interrogation room becomes completely still. Marcus slowly lifts his head. “…Margaret was there?” The detective nods. “Yes.” Adrian’s expression turns colder. “Play it.” The detective taps the screen again. The video resumes. On the tablet, the scene in the conference room continues. Victor Salazar is still standing near the table. I’m facing him. The tension between us is sharp enough to feel even through the screen. Then— The door behind Victor opens. My past self turns immediately. And a woman walks into the room. Margaret Lawson. Marcus exhales slowly. “…well. That escalated quickly.” In the video, Margaret closes the door behind her with quiet precision. Her expression is calm. Almost amused. Victor glances at her briefly. Not surprised. Not confused. Which means one thing. He knew she was coming. My stomach twists. In the recording, I look at Margaret. “What are you doing here?” Margaret tilts her head slightly. “That’s
The hallway falls silent. “You threatening Victor Salazar.” The detective’s words echo in my ears like a verdict. Marcus straightens immediately, his usual sarcasm edged with curiosity. “…okay,” he says slowly, “now I really want to see that video.” Adrian’s eyes narrow slightly. “Play it.” The detective nods and taps the tablet screen. The small display lights up. A dim conference room appears, grainy but clear enough. The timestamp in the corner reads: March 14 — 11:42 PM. My breath catches. “That’s the night of the crash.” Marcus leans closer. “Let’s see what Past Alessa was doing.” The video stabilizes. A table. Two chairs. Victor Salazar sitting on one side. Then the door opens. And I walk into the room. My chest tightens. Seeing myself like this feels strange. Familiar. But distant. Marcus whistles softly. “You look extremely angry.” He’s not wrong. In the recording, my expression is cold. Focused. Controlled. Victor smirks slightly in the video. “You came.” My







