Chapter 11 - CLARA’S COUNTER-ATTACK
Miles away, Clara sat at her kitchen table surrounded by her parents, her wedding dress replaced by simple jeans and a sweater.
Her father’s small carpentry shop had indeed faced mysterious financial audits and sudden supply chain blocks all year.
"It was all Eleanor," Clara’s father muttered, staring at the printed legal threats spread across the wooden table.
"And we sat there thanking her for her generous community support," Clara’s mother added with deep, burning regret.
"Not anymore," Clara said, her voice hard, clear, and devoid of the tears she had shed earlier that afternoon.
She pulled out her laptop, opening an encrypted messaging channel she had noticed on the bottom of the accountant's leaked letter.
It was a direct line to Damon, established by the whistleblower before he fled across the Canadian border.
She typed a single, concise message into the dialogue box: I know you're behind the leak. We need to talk.
Within ten seconds, the screen flickered, and a notification popped up indicating an incoming encrypted secure call.
May you like
She hovered her finger over the accept button, knowing that answering would drag her back into Damon's dangerous orbit.
She took a deep breath, clicked the icon, and heard the familiar, low voice she thought she would never hear again.
