C133 The Truth Begins To Surface

Chris folded his arms across his chest and looked from Alicia to me with narrowed eyes. "No." "This time you're not changing the subject." "You two have been avoiding my questions since lunch started." He pointed a finger between us. "Are you going to tell me what really happened, or should I start making up my own stories?"

Alicia's cheeks instantly became pink. She lowered her head and quietly avoided Chris's gaze. I couldn't help smiling. "Brother..." "Do you remember when I was in prison?" He nodded immediately. "Of course I do." I continued, "I asked you to pass a message to Alicia."

Chris suddenly froze. His eyes slowly widened. "Wait..." "I remember!" "You asked me to tell her... that you agree." His mouth slowly opened. "So..." He pointed at me dramatically. "You used me as your messenger to confess your feelings?" He turned toward Alicia. "No..." "Wait..." "The message only said 'he agrees.'"

His eyes darted between us. "Does that mean..." "Alicia confessed first?" "W-when?" "Before Laura?" "Or after?" Both Alicia and I froze. We exchanged helpless glances. Alicia was the first to recover. "Big Brother..." "You're misunderstanding everything." "Please let Mike explain." Chris grinned mischievously. "If I let him explain, this conversation will finish tomorrow."

He leaned closer. "Alicia." "You tell me." She couldn't stop smiling. "After Mike was arrested..." "My grandfather went to visit him." Chris frowned. "So?" "What happened?" She looked toward me. I cleared my throat before answering. "My brother..." "Her grandfather came to my cell." "He said he would personally help clear my name."

Chris nodded seriously. "I know that part." "But..." "There was one condition." "He told me..." "Because I now had a criminal record..." "My parents had lost their jobs..." "And because Ben would never stop targeting me..." "He wanted me to marry Alicia." Chris blinked repeatedly. "What?"

I nodded. "The marriage wasn't only about us." "It was also a business arrangement." "Alicia promised him that she would become Director of Lucia Goods as soon as i am out" "So he wanted me to work beside her." "Starting from the bottom." "Learning business while continuing my work in technology." "For the first time..." "I could finally provide a stable future for my parents."

I paused before smiling at Alicia. "And..." "If I could build that future with this beauty beside me..." "Who would refuse?" "Supporting my future wife just like you will support yours. Alicia immediately looked away. Her ears turned completely red. Chris stared at both of us before slowly nodding. "...Actually..." "Your grandfather does have a point."

He looked at me seriously. "If you leave Woods Corporation..." "Ben loses his biggest target." "He'll probably stop chasing you." Then he suddenly frowned again. "Wait." "You also said I'd be supporting Sarah." "How?" I laughed. "Didn't Mrs. Wood tell you?" "For now..." "We have to support Sarah as Acting Director."

"There are too many people inside the company trying to take Director Wood's position." Chris sighed. "So..." "You two will eventually leave." "And I'll be left here alone." Alicia smiled warmly. "You won't." "If you want to come with us..." "You'll always be welcome." Chris scratched his head thoughtfully.

I laughed. "So..." "He can't leave his future wife with foxes." I paused for a moment, "It's settled." "I'll become my wife's secretary." "I'll start from the lowest position." "I'll learn everything properly." Alicia giggled. "My husband becoming my secretary..." "That sounds nice."

Chris burst into laughter. "Poor Mike." "You'll be ordered around every day." I shrugged dramatically. "I've already been ordered around by this beauty." "What's one more lifetime?" Alicia lightly punched my shoulder. "Stop teasing."

Then I suddenly looked at Chris. "Actually..." "Does Sarah have a secretary?" Chris immediately shook his head. "No chance." "You've lost your mind." I raised an eyebrow. "Why?" He sighed. "Because nobody knows we're together." "If I suddenly become her secretary..." "The whole company will start talking." "And with Sarah's new position..." "Every pair of eyes is already watching her." I nodded thoughtfully. "That's true."

For a few moments the three of us simply laughed together. Despite everything that had happened... Those small moments of happiness felt precious. Then I remembered why we had come. I looked at Chris. "Brother." "Call Sarah." His expression immediately became serious. "Now?" "Yes." "It's urgent."

Without another question, Chris took out his phone and dialed Sarah's number. The call connected after only two rings. "Hello, Chris." Her gentle voice came through the speaker. I quickly took the phone from Chris. "Hello, Sister-in-law." There was complete silence. Then... "...Mike?" I smiled. "Yes." "It's me." She laughed softly. "You almost scared me." "What happened?"

I didn't waste time. "Sarah." "We've found evidence." "Evidence regarding everything." Her breathing stopped for a moment. "What..." "What kind of evidence?" "I can't explain over the phone." "But please..." "Meet Alicia and me at Director Wood's private hospital room." "Bring Aunt Tracy." "And Samantha."

Her voice immediately became serious. "What about Ben?" "Don't tell him." "Not yet." "I only want you..." "Your mother..." "And Samantha." There was another long silence. Finally... Sarah answered firmly. "Okay." "I understand." "I'll inform them immediately." "We'll meet you there." The call ended.

Chris looked at me curiously. "You sound confident." I smiled. "Because today..." "The truth finally starts coming out." After lunch... Alicia unlocked her Maserati. "Husband." "Driver or passenger?" I laughed. "I only passed my driving exams i never drove so the Passenger." "My wife drives better than anyone else." She rolled her eyes. "You've become shameless." "I learned from you." She smiled despite trying not to.

Soon... The powerful engine came to life. The drive to the hospital was strangely quiet. Neither of us spoke much. The recording inside my phone suddenly felt heavier than any object I had ever carried. One recording... Could destroy an entire family. One recording... Could expose years of lies. One recording... Could change every relationship forever.

About thirty minutes later... We arrived at the hospital. As soon as we stepped out... Sarah was already standing near the entrance. She spotted us immediately and waved happily. I smiled as we walked toward her. "So..." "How's my niece doing?" Sarah froze. Then her face immediately turned bright red. "Mike..." "Keep your voice down." "It's still our secret."

Alicia laughed loudly. "Our Acting Director is shy." Sarah gently pinched Alicia's arm. "You two are impossible." The three of us walked into the hospital together. Several nurses greeted Sarah respectfully as she passed. It was obvious that everyone already knew her new position inside Woods Corporation.

Soon... We arrived outside Director Wood's private ward. Sarah quietly opened the door. The atmosphere inside immediately became solemn. Director Kelvin Wood lay peacefully on the hospital bed. His complexion was still pale. Machines quietly monitored his heartbeat.

Beside him... Tracy Wood gently held her husband's hand. She looked exhausted. Her eyes were swollen from crying. On the sofa nearby... Samantha sat silently. She hadn't noticed us enter. She simply stared out the window with distant eyes, as though carrying years of regret alone.

When Tracy looked up and saw us... She stood slowly. "Mike..." "Alicia..." "You came." I nodded respectfully. "We wanted to visit Director Wood." "And..." "I also have something important everyone here needs to hear." Tracy looked puzzled. Sarah exchanged a meaningful glance with her mother.

Samantha finally turned around. Her eyes landed on me... Then shifted toward Alicia standing quietly beside me. For a brief moment... No one spoke. The hospital room became completely silent. Every heartbeat... Every breath... Seemed louder than before.

None of them realized... That the phone inside my pocket contained a confession capable of destroying Ben Wood forever. And within the next few minutes... The first crack in his carefully built empire would finally appear.