Chapter 10 - The Woman They FramedIsa had one day to prove her innocence before the company turned against her.
Federal agents entered the office at 9:14.
Isa sat across from two investigators.
They showed her bank records.
Transfers.
Emails.
Authorization codes.
Everything appeared to point to her.
"I didn't do this."
One investigator sighed.
"The evidence says otherwise."
Declan entered.
His attorney followed.
"I'm her lawyer."
The investigator frowned.
"You can't represent her."
"I own the company."
"And she is implicated in a fraud investigation involving that company."
Declan's voice went flat.
"Then investigate me too."
Isa looked at him.
He didn't hesitate.
That was the first moment she truly understood him.
He was willing to stand beside her even when standing beside her was dangerous.
Hours later, the legal team found a clue.
The fraudulent transactions had been approved using an old employee token.
One person had access.
The former CFO.
But he had disappeared the day Declan took over.
His name was Adrian Cross.
Isa searched company records.
Nothing.
Then she noticed something strange.
Adrian had worked for the Vale family twenty-nine years ago.
She looked at Declan.
"Your grandfather."
He nodded.
"Maybe Adrian knows the ledger."
They found him that night.
An abandoned warehouse in Queens.
Adrian was waiting.
"You shouldn't have come."
Declan stepped forward.
"Who is behind this?"
Adrian looked at Isa.
Her face changed.
"You know me."
"I know your father."
"Who are you?"
Adrian swallowed.
"I worked for him."
"Then tell me the truth."
He looked at Declan.
"Your grandfather ordered Richard Burn killed."
Isa stopped breathing.
"What?"
Declan closed his eyes.
"I knew there was something."
Adrian continued.
"Richard had the ledger."
"And he gave it to my father?"
"No."
"Then where?"
Adrian looked at Isa.
"He gave it to you."
Her heart pounded.
"When?"
"When you were born."
Isa shook her head.
"I was a baby."
"He put the code in your identity."
She didn't understand.
Adrian stepped closer.
"Your birth certificate isn't real."
Isa felt cold.
"What?"
"Your father changed your legal identity after he learned the Vale family was searching for you."
Declan stared.
"Then who is she?"
Adrian looked at Isa.
"The truth is..."
The warehouse doors slammed open.
Gunfire erupted.
Adrian fell.
Isa screamed.
Declan pulled her behind a steel table.
Security fired back.
When the shooting stopped, Adrian was dying.
Isa crawled toward him.
He grabbed her wrist.
"Your real name..."
He coughed.
"...isn't Isa Burn."
Then he died.
Isa froze.
Declan stared at her.
"What did he mean?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know."
Her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A man's voice said:
"Now you understand."
"Victor?"
"Ask Declan what happened to your real family."
The call ended.
Isa looked at Declan.
"Tell me."
He said nothing.
"Declan."
His eyes were full of pain.
"I think I know."
"What?"
May you like
He swallowed.
"You may be the last surviving member of a family my grandfather destroyed."
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