Chapter 5: The Witness From That Night
The name hung in the ballroom like a warning.
Rebecca.
Alexander looked at Elena.
“Who is she?””
Elena's face had lost all color.
“She was Cynthia's assistant.””
Cynthia immediately shook her head.
“No.””
Elena turned toward her.
“Yes.””
The confidence in that one word silenced everyone.
Three years of unanswered questions had finally found a doorway.
Alexander looked at the security officer.
“Bring her here.””
Thomas stepped forward.
“Alexander, we should do this carefully.””
“I have spent three years believing my wife was dead.””
His eyes never left Cynthia.
“I think I've been careful enough.””
A few minutes later, the ballroom doors opened.
A woman in her early forties entered with two security officers behind her.
She looked exhausted.
Not frightened.
Like someone who had carried a secret for too long.
Her eyes immediately found Elena.
And tears filled them.
“Elena.””
Elena didn't move.
Rebecca stopped several feet away.
“I thought I would never see you again.””
Alexander looked between them.
“Someone explain what is happening.””
Rebecca looked at him.
“I'm the reason Elena survived.””
Cynthia laughed sharply.
“Don't listen to her.””
Rebecca's expression changed.
“You still haven't changed.””
Cynthia stepped forward.
“You're a liar.””
“No.””
Rebecca looked around the room.
“I'm the person who watched you destroy her life.””
Alexander's jaw tightened.
“Start from the beginning.””
Rebecca took a breath.
“Three years ago, Elena discovered financial transfers from Whitmore Holdings. She didn't know who was responsible.””
She looked at Cynthia.
“Then she found out.””
Cynthia crossed her arms.
“This is ridiculous.””
Rebecca continued.
“Elena confronted Cynthia privately.””
Alexander looked at Cynthia.
“And?””
Rebecca swallowed.
“And Cynthia panicked.””
The room went silent.
Elena's eyes filled with painful memories.
“She told me she could explain,” Elena said quietly.
Alexander turned.
“You remember?””
Elena nodded.
“I remember everything.””
Rebecca continued.
“She convinced Elena to meet her near the marina. She said she had evidence that would clear her name.””
Alexander looked horrified.
“But the accident…”
Rebecca lowered her eyes.
“It wasn't an accident.””
A wave of whispers spread through the ballroom.
Alexander took a step back.
“What?””
Rebecca looked directly at him.
“The boat was damaged before Elena got on it.””
Cynthia shouted.
“That is a lie!””
Rebecca turned.
“You told me to clean the security footage.””
Cynthia froze.
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“You gave me money to delete the marina cameras.””
Thomas immediately began writing notes.
Alexander stared at Cynthia.
“You paid her?””
Cynthia's silence answered.
Rebecca continued.
“I couldn't do it.””
Her voice cracked.
“I copied the footage before deleting anything.””
Alexander looked at her.
“You had proof?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn't you come forward?””
Rebecca looked down.
“Because Cynthia threatened my family.””
The room became still.
Elena walked closer.
“Why now?””
Rebecca looked at her.
“Because I saw what she was planning.””
Her eyes moved toward Vanessa.
“The fake pregnancy wasn't the beginning.””
Vanessa looked away.
“It was the final step.””
Alexander's expression hardened.
“What was the first step?””
Rebecca reached into her purse.
She removed a small flash drive.
“This.””
Thomas immediately took it.
“What is it?””
“Everything Cynthia tried to hide.””
Cynthia stepped forward.
“Don't touch that.””
Security moved between them.
Alexander looked at her.
“Why?””
Cynthia's face changed.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
Rebecca continued.
“She believed if Alexander had an heir, she could control the company through the guardian agreement.””
Thomas looked at the flash drive.
“And when Elena returned?””
Rebecca answered.
“She needed Elena to stay hidden.””
Alexander looked at Vanessa.
“You knew.””
Vanessa whispered, “Not everything.””
Elena stared at her.
“But enough.””
Vanessa looked away.
“I thought Cynthia was only trying to protect the company.””
Alexander's voice became cold.
“You helped someone erase my wife.””
Vanessa began crying.
“I didn't know she would hurt Elena.””
Rebecca interrupted.
“You knew she was alive.””
Vanessa said nothing.
The silence was devastating.
Alexander turned away.
He couldn't even look at her.
Then Thomas's phone buzzed.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed.
“What?””
Alexander noticed.
“Thomas.””
The attorney looked up.
“The flash drive contains more than financial records.””
“What else?””
Thomas hesitated.
“Communication between Cynthia and someone outside the family.””
“Who?””
Thomas stared at the screen.
“I don't know.””
“Read it.””
Thomas scrolled.
Then he stopped.
“There is one message.””
Alexander waited.
Thomas looked at Elena.
“It's addressed to someone named Daniel.””
Elena's face changed.
“No.””
Alexander noticed.
“You know that name?””
Elena slowly shook her head.
“I thought he was gone.””
“Who is Daniel?””
Before Elena could answer, the flash drive displayed the message.
Thomas read it aloud.
“She's alive. Find her before she reaches Alexander.””
The room went silent.
Alexander looked at Elena.
“Who wanted you gone?””
Elena stared at the screen.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“The person who started this.””
