Chapter 11: The Reckoning

Did I have anything to say?

Nathan’s eyes burned with hate and twisted satisfaction. The absurdity hit me—we were barely two years apart. We’re blood—same dad, same mom. You’d think that would mean something. After Mom died, he was the only family I had left.

I snorted. Gripped the microphone. "I’d like to say—President Morgan, your fiancé is lying, trying to smear me. If you love him enough to let him turn lies into truth, I’ll report everything in tonight’s news. The public isn’t blind. If a leader can’t tell right from wrong, how can the public trust their project?"

You’d think she’d be furious—old Lillian or new. But she just walked onto the stage, her heels echoing in the silence, stopping to face me under the spotlights.

She spoke my name, and suddenly, the whole world went silent, waiting for the truth I’d spent years hiding.

My heart squeezed tight. I didn’t want to hear her defend Nathan. I turned, voice low but steady:

"Every accusation is a lie. My only contact with President Morgan, my brother’s fiancée, was for work—nothing personal."

"No contact?"

The room held its breath. Afternoon sunlight cut across the glass walls, and the story—our story—was finally out in the open. The truth was so close, I could almost reach out and touch it.