The hall exploded into whispers. People gasped loudly, some covering their mouths in shock, others turning their heads toward Emily.
She sat frozen, her body shaking, tears sliding quietly down her face.
Victor's face turned pale. He staggered back a step as if struck by lightning. "What…" his lips trembled, "what are you saying… suppressed by me?"
Aurora's smile curved into something sharp and cold.
"Yes, Victor. You hired Sophia to bury the case. You erased Emily's voice. You made sure no one would speak of it again. You thought it would vanish forever."
Victor's mind spun in chaos. He did remember.
A year ago, when George had first come to him, begging for acknowledgment, he had heard whispers about George's ex-wife.
He remembered the rumors of a miscarriage, of ugly disputes.
He had thought it was a stain on the family's name. So, he had told Sophia to settle it quietly, to make sure the Hawthorne reputation stayed clean. He had never cared about the details.
