Chapter 9: The Evidence

The next morning, I arrived at Grayhaven Consulting before anyone else.

My supervisor was already waiting in the conference room.

He looked uncomfortable.

Ms. Mercer, we received another complaint overnight.

I placed my laptop on the table.

Then let me show you why someone wants me removed from this company.

I connected my laptop to the screen.

The first file was the agreement between the Calder and Mercer families.

My supervisor read it carefully.

This is a private family contract.

It is also evidence that my employment history is being manipulated, I replied.

I opened the next file.

It contained messages between Noah and Scarlett discussing the public claiming ceremony.

My supervisor's expression changed.

Where did you obtain these?

They were sent to my personal account before I left Ashvale.

I did not steal anything.

I simply protected myself.

He continued reading.

Then I showed him the registry footage.

In the recording, Noah clearly discussed using me as a public cover while planning to claim Scarlett later.

My supervisor leaned back in his chair.

This is serious.

I know.

But I have one more piece of evidence.

I opened the final folder.

Inside were copies of the anonymous complaints sent to Grayhaven Consulting.

The metadata showed that several of them had been created from a Calder family network.

My supervisor stared at the screen.

Someone is trying very hard to destroy your reputation.

I nodded.

And I believe they are doing it because they are afraid of what I know.

He closed the file.

Your position will remain active while we investigate.

Relief washed through me.

Thank you.

But when I returned to my desk, I found an envelope waiting there.

There was no name on it.

Inside was a single photograph.

It showed Scarlett standing outside a private clinic in Grayhaven.

On the back, someone had written a message.

You think Noah is your biggest problem. He isn't.

My wolf immediately became alert.

I looked at the photograph again.

Why would someone be watching Scarlett?

My phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

I answered cautiously.

Ruby Mercer?

Yes.

You need to stop investigating the Calder family.

Who are you?

Someone who knows what happened five years ago.

The call ended.

Five years ago.

The same year Noah and Scarlett had begun their secret relationship.

The same year Noah said he discovered the family agreement.

There had to be more.

That evening, I searched through my old records.

I found an email from five years earlier that I had completely forgotten.

It was from a former Calder employee named Ethan Vale.

The message contained only one sentence.

If you ever discover why your family chose Scarlett, look for the Grayhaven files.

My hands went cold.

Why had I never seen this before?

I checked the sender's account.

It had been deleted years ago.

Then another message arrived.

Meet me tomorrow at the old railway station. Come alone.

I hesitated.

Everything inside me warned against going.

But I needed answers.

The next evening, I arrived at the station just before sunset.

An unfamiliar man was standing near the empty platform.

He looked at me carefully.

Ruby Mercer?

Yes.

My name is Ethan Vale.

I recognized him immediately from an old company photograph.

You worked for the Calder family.

For twelve years.

What do you know?

Ethan glanced around before answering.

The woman you call your sister was not the only person your parents were protecting.

My heart began pounding.

What does that mean?

He handed me a sealed envelope.

Inside is the original medical report from the night Scarlett's first mate contract was dissolved.

I opened the envelope with trembling fingers.

The report contained a name I had never expected to see.

My mother's.

I stared at the page.

This report says my mother was present at the clinic that night.

She was not there to support Scarlett, Ethan said.

She was there because she knew the real reason Scarlett's mate contract had been dissolved.

What reason?

Ethan looked at me with pity.

Scarlett was never abandoned by her mate because of incompatibility.

Someone paid him to reject her.

I could barely breathe.

Who paid him?

Ethan did not answer immediately.

Then he whispered the name.

Your father.