Chapter 15: Hidden Evidence

The morning after the attack, River City's headlines were dominated by the engagement banquet and the mysterious car accident involving Eric Chilton and Stella Judd. Although the media reported it as an ordinary traffic incident, only a handful of people knew it had been a carefully planned attack.

Inside the Chilton Group headquarters, Eric stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office while Mason placed several investigation files on the desk.

'The police finished examining the stolen sedan,' Mason reported.

'No fingerprints. No usable DNA. The car was professionally cleaned before the attack.'

Eric wasn't surprised.

'Anything else?'

Mason opened another folder.

'The surveillance cameras near the construction site captured the suspect escaping.'

'Unfortunately, he changed clothes within three minutes and disappeared into the subway station.'

'He's clearly trained.'

Eric silently studied the photographs.

Whoever was targeting Stella had prepared everything carefully.

This wasn't random revenge.

It was organized.

Very organized.

'Continue investigating,' Eric ordered.

'Especially Vivian's assistant.'

'I want to know where he disappeared.'

'Yes, Mr. Chilton.'

Meanwhile, Stella arrived at the Judd Corporation to help her father review several charity foundation projects. Since deciding to marry Eric, she wanted to become more involved in the family's business instead of living comfortably as she had in her previous life.

Mr. Judd smiled proudly while watching her organize documents.

'You've changed a lot these past few weeks.'

'Before, your mind was always somewhere else.'

'Now...'

'You finally look like someone ready to inherit this company.'

Stella smiled.

'Maybe I simply grew up a little later than everyone else.'

Her father laughed.

'Growing up late is still better than never growing up.'

At noon, Stella received a message from Eric.

'Lunch together?'

She replied almost immediately.

'I'll be there in twenty minutes.'

The restaurant Eric had chosen overlooked River City's central lake.

Unlike luxurious private clubs, it was quiet and peaceful.

When Stella arrived, Eric was already waiting.

'Sorry I'm late,' she said.

'Exactly two minutes,' Eric answered while checking his watch.

'I'll forgive you this time.'

Stella laughed.

'You're impossible.'

For nearly an hour, they talked about everything except business.

Favorite books.

Travel destinations.

Childhood memories.

Stella gradually realized something surprising.

Eric wasn't cold.

He simply spoke only when his words mattered.

As lunch was ending, Mason hurried into the restaurant.

His expression was unusually serious.

'Mr. Chilton.'

'We found something.'

Eric immediately stood.

'What is it?'

'The hotel technician recovered deleted security footage from the engagement banquet.'

'Someone entered the control room thirty minutes before the presentation.'

'The face isn't clear...'

'But we identified the person who gave him access.'

'Who?'

'One of Vivian's personal assistants.'

Stella's expression changed.

'Does that prove Vivian planned everything?'

Mason shook his head.

'Not yet.'

'The assistant disappeared immediately afterward.'

'Someone paid him five hundred thousand dollars before he vanished.'

Eric's eyes narrowed.

'Transfer records?'

'The money came through three overseas accounts.'

'They're already closed.'

'Professional work.'

Eric remained silent for several moments.

'Too clean,' he finally said.

'Someone wants us to suspect Vivian.'

Stella looked surprised.

'You think she was framed?''

'Possibly.'

'Or someone is using her reputation to hide their real identity.'

The possibility made Stella uneasy.

If even Eric couldn't identify the true enemy, the situation was more dangerous than she had imagined.

Later that afternoon, Stella returned home.

As she entered her bedroom, she noticed something unusual.

One of her desk drawers was slightly open.

She clearly remembered closing it before leaving.

Her heartbeat quickened.

Carefully opening the drawer, she found a small brown envelope inside.

There was no sender's name.

Only one sentence was written on the front.

'Read this before trusting Eric completely.'

Stella frowned.

She slowly opened the envelope.

Inside was an old photograph.

The picture showed Eric standing beside a beautiful young woman.

They appeared close.

Very close.

Behind the photograph was another handwritten sentence.

'Ask him why she disappeared.'

Stella stared at the picture in silence.

She wanted to believe it meant nothing.

But someone had risked secretly entering her room just to leave it.

At that exact moment, her phone rang.

It was Eric.

'Are you home safely?' he asked.

Stella looked once more at the mysterious photograph before answering.

'Yes... I'm home.'

She hesitated.

For the first time since meeting Eric...

A tiny seed of doubt quietly entered her heart.