Mound of Lies

I glared coldly at the familiar yet distant figure through the observation window, my nails digging deep into my palms, nearly piercing the flesh. The pain was like an ice pick, stabbing straight into my chaotic mind, forcing me back to my senses. I can’t afford to panic. I can’t afford to lose control.

"Peter, you’re truly impressive."

I gritted my teeth, each word forced out from the depths of my throat, laced with bitter hatred and biting mockery. I can't believe I was so blind, mistaking a jackal for a hero.

Spinning on my heel, I stormed back into my office. The moment I stepped inside, I locked the door and pulled the blinds shut, shutting out the outside world. The room darkened instantly, mirroring the abyss of my emotions. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay composed.

Now is not the time for sorrow or anger. I must avenge my father. Lilly must pay the price. I wasted no time and began gathering evidence. His death cannot be in vain.

My hands trembled slightly as I opened my computer, fingers striking the keyboard with urgency, pulling up the internal system of my father’s laboratory. Lines of code. Pages of data. Shadows of his relentless work, once filled with life and ambition.

I flipped through the experimental logs he left behind. His meticulous handwriting filled every page, documenting his dedication, his wisdom—the very essence of his life's work. And now, those records had become mere stepping stones for Lilly’s rise to power. The thought alone made me sick. I compared his logs with the accident report Peter had provided, combing through them again and again, searching for cracks, for discrepancies. If he had gone to such lengths to cover the truth, then the truth must be buried in the details they deliberately overlooked.

Time slipped away like sand through my fingers. The only sound in the room was the rapid flipping of pages, the rhythmic tapping of keys. My eyes burned, dry and sore from staring at the screen, but I couldn’t afford even a moment of rest.

This was a race against time. Lilly’s new drug was about to launch. If I didn’t expose her crimes before she solidified her reputation, it would be too late.

The clock struck seven when a knock at the door made me freeze. Peter entered. I swiftly closed the files, shut down the computer and replaced my exhaustion with a radiant smile. He mustn’t see a single clue. He smiled warmly, stepping forward to embrace me. "Working overtime again? You work too hard. Don’t overdo it, your health isn’t great. If you push yourself too much, I’ll be heartbroken."

"It’s fine. What brings you here today? Shouldn’t you be at Wilson Corporation?" I feigned ignorance about his earlier visit to the company.

"I called you, but you didn’t answer. I got worried, so I came to check on you." He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek—just as affectionate as ever.

I remembered that I had muted my phone earlier to focus on my search. Even as he acted so tenderly, I felt nothing but revulsion. I never thought he would go this far for Lilly.

On the drive home, he started the car as if nothing had happened, his voice casual.

"Jessie, the police told me today that there wasn’t enough evidence, so they had to release Lilly for now. They’ll issue an arrest warrant once more evidence surfaces. Besides, the new drug data was originally in her possession and Moan Corporation has deep business ties with Shawn Group, so—"

I cut him off before he could finish. "Well, it’s just speculation. No solid proof. Let’s just drop it. Don’t worry, I won’t dwell on it."

He visibly relaxed, a relieved smile flickering in the corners of his eyes.

"Thank you, dear. Marrying you has been the greatest privilege of my life."

I turned to the window, struggling to steady my trembling heart, holding back the tears threatening to fall.