Chapter 6 - The Photograph
“That isn’t me.”
My voice sounded far away.
The woman in the photograph had my coat.
My hair.
My posture.
Even the little black maternity bag I carried to every appointment.
But I had never been inside Meridian Genomics at two in the morning.
Adrian zoomed in.
The image became grainy around the face.
Victor leaned closer.
“Deepfake?”
“Maybe,” Adrian said.
I pointed at the bottom corner.
“Look at the clock.”
The wall clock behind us said 11:41.
The digital timestamp said 2:08.
Victor smiled without humor.
“Sloppy.”
Adrian looked at me.
“You saw that fast.”
“I was a photo editor before I married you.”
The sentence came out sharper than I intended.
Before I became Mrs. Cole.
Before people started assuming my life began when I met him.
Adrian absorbed the hit.
Then nodded.
“You’re right.”
Security brought Cassandra into the room.
Her wrists were not restrained, but two officers stood close enough to make the point.
She saw the photograph.
Her face changed.
“That’s fake.”
Victor folded his arms.
“You’re in it.”
“I know.”
“You expect us to believe someone faked both of you?”
“Yes.”
Adrian stepped toward her.
“Then explain the vial.”
Cassandra’s eyes flicked to me.
“I put something in her tea.”
My stomach dropped.
Adrian went rigid.
Cassandra raised both hands.
“What?”
Victor’s expression did not move.
“Vitamin concentrate. I use it after migraines.”
“Then the vial was switched.”
Cassandra looked at me.
“I think you’ve enjoyed making me uncomfortable for months.”
Adrian stared at her.
“I never said I was nice.”
“But I didn’t poison her.”
Her confidence disappeared.
“So that part is real.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“Why?”
She looked at him.
Victor’s face changed.
But enough.
“Dad?”
Cassandra laughed once.
“What?” I asked.
She looked directly at Victor.
Adrian’s voice went low.
Victor still didn’t answer.
“He told me not to tell you because he thought the leak was inside your office.”
“My office?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Security moved instantly.
“It’s just a key.”
Cassandra looked at me.
“What’s on it?”
Victor went pale.
Not smug.
“And a recording of Victor telling me who he thought was behind all of this.”
Adrian turned to his father.
“Who did you think it was?”
May you like
Victor’s answer came slowly.
“You.”
