Chapter 8: The First Secret

The sun had barely risen over Manhattan when June was still sitting at the dining table.

The bloodstained envelope remained open before her.

She hadn't slept.

Neither had Vera.

Every document inside revealed another layer of deception.

Another lie.

Another secret.

"This is insane," Vera whispered.

She held one of the photographs in trembling fingers.

"If these records are real, your uncle wasn't just involved. He planned everything."

June remained silent.

Her eyes were fixed on a maintenance report dated eleven years earlier.

The report clearly stated that her parents' vehicle had passed inspection without any issues.

Yet twenty-four hours later, the brakes mysteriously failed.

Someone had tampered with the car after the inspection.

"Look at this," Vera said.

She slid another document across the table.

A series of bank transfers appeared on the page.

Large payments.

Hidden accounts.

Shell companies.

One transaction immediately caught June's attention.

The recipient company was registered under a legal entity connected to the Compton family.

Her jaw tightened.

"It wasn't just Richard," she said quietly.

"The Comptons were involved."

"Or at least someone inside the family was."

Vera frowned.

"But why?"

"Why would they care about your parents?"

June leaned back in her chair.

"Because my father wasn't just a scientist."

"He was also one of the largest shareholders in Erickson Biotech before his death."

"After the accident, those shares disappeared."

Vera's eyes widened.

"You're saying someone profited from their deaths?"

"I'm saying someone became very rich because my parents died."

The room fell silent.

A knock suddenly interrupted their conversation.

June frowned.

Nobody should know her new address.

Vera immediately moved toward the security monitor.

"It's a courier."

"From Compton Empire."

June laughed coldly.

"Of course it is."

"Should I send him away?"

"No."

"Bring it up."

Minutes later, a sealed black envelope sat on the marble countertop.

The Compton corporate logo gleamed across the front.

June opened it.

Inside was a single sheet of paper.

A formal legal notice.

Her eyes narrowed as she read.

"What is it?" Vera asked.

"Cole's lawyers," June replied.

"They're demanding I return all marital property within forty-eight hours."

"What property?"

"Apparently a handbag, jewelry, and a vehicle."

Vera stared at her.

"You almost died."

"And he's sending legal threats?"

"Seems that way."

June placed the letter aside.

Then her phone rang.

This time she recognized the number.

Cole.

For a moment she considered ignoring it.

Then she answered.

"What do you want?"

"There you are," Cole said.

His tone immediately irritated her.

"You've been avoiding me."

"You've been alive for six days and that's your first concern?"

"Don't start," Cole snapped.

"You made enough drama already."

"My legal team informed me you're refusing to cooperate."

"Return the company property and stop acting like a victim."

June closed her eyes.

For years she would have cried.

For years she would have begged.

Now she felt nothing.

"Do you remember the night I called you?" she asked.

"What?"

"The night I was bleeding to death."

"June, not this again."

"Answer the question."

Cole sighed heavily.

"I was at the gala."

"Exactly."

"While I was dying, you were holding another woman's hand."

"You weren't dying."

"The doctors said—"

"The doctors removed my baby."

Silence.

For the first time, Cole had no immediate response.

"I lost our child," June continued.

"And you never even asked if I survived."

"June—"

"Don't call me again."

She ended the call.

Her hand didn't shake.

Her voice never cracked.

Cole stared at his disconnected phone in disbelief.

Inside his office, Alycia sat comfortably on the leather sofa.

"Still playing the victim?" she asked with a laugh.

"As always."

Cole rubbed his temples.

"She's becoming difficult."

"Then stop being nice."

Alycia crossed her legs.

"You know she'll come back eventually."

"She always does."

Cole nodded.

That was exactly what he believed.

June always forgave him.

She always stayed.

She always returned.

Neither of them realized how wrong they were.

Back at the penthouse, June's laptop chimed.

A notification appeared on the screen.

"Patent Activity Alert."

Her eyes sharpened.

"What's that?" Vera asked.

"Interesting," June murmured.

"Very interesting."

Someone had filed new licensing paperwork using the Neuro-X patent.

The patent Alycia claimed belonged to her.

The patent that legally belonged to June.

The filing included financial disclosures.

And one number immediately stood out.

Projected revenue: $340 million.

"They're getting greedy," June said.

"What does that mean?"

"It means Alycia just handed me the evidence I need to destroy her."

A slow smile appeared on June's face.

For the first time since leaving the hospital, there was genuine satisfaction in her eyes.

The conspiracy surrounding her parents would take time.

But Alycia's downfall?

That could begin immediately.

June closed the laptop.

Then looked out at the skyline.

"You wanted the spotlight," she whispered.

"Let's see how much you enjoy it when the truth comes out."

Far across the city, Alycia was celebrating her newest success.

She had no idea that the first crack had already appeared beneath her perfect life.

And soon, everything would start collapsing.