Chapter 507

Chapter 507:

The Guardian walked toward the door, his footsteps echoing in the empty space. Behind him, the photograph on the monitor sat in darkness, a reminder of the debt that still needed to be paid.

The Kane Industries conference room smelled of stale coffee and exhaustion. Stefan sat across from Hannah, surrounded by financial documents, computer printouts, and empty takeout containers from their third consecutive day of investigation. Dark circles under both their eyes testified to sleepless nights spent chasing digital ghosts through fifteen-year-old corporate records.

Hannah rubbed her temples, her usually perfect hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. “Look at this,” she said, pointing to a spreadsheet on her laptop. “Two weeks before the Meridian Technologies factory explosion, someone transferred $2.3 million from the company’s safety equipment fund to an offshore account.”

Stefan leaned closer, catching the faint scent of her lavender shampoo mixed with the sharp smell of energy drinks. “Who authorized the transfer?”

“That’s the interesting part.” Hannah’s fingers danced across the keyboard, pulling up digital bank records. “The authorization came from someone with high-level access to Meridian’s financial systems, but the electronic signature doesn’t match Richard Pierce’s usual pattern.”

“You think someone else made the transfer using Pierce’s credentials?”

“More than that. I think someone deliberately sabotaged Meridian’s safety budget right before the installation that killed seventeen people.” Hannah’s voice carried quiet outrage. “They stole money that should have been used for proper equipment, then let Richard Pierce take the blame when everything fell apart.”

Stefan studied the financial trail, his business background helping him understand the implications. “If someone diverted the safety funds, then Richard Pierce might not have known about the substandard equipment until it was too late.”

“Which means he was set up. Just like Alexander is being set up now.” Hannah pulled up another document. “Stefan, look at the timing. The money transfer happened exactly two weeks before someone warned Victoria about Meridian’s cost-cutting measures.”

“You think the same person who stole the money also contacted Victoria?”

“I think someone orchestrated the entire situation. They stole Meridian’s safety funds, ensured Victoria knew about the resulting problems, then sat back and watched two companies destroy each other.” Hannah’s eyes blazed with intellectual fury. “Fifteen years later, they’re using the aftermath to manipulate Alexander into finishing what they started.”

𝙉𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝗀ⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀․𝗰𝗼𝗺

The conference room door opened, and Camille entered carrying three cups of fresh coffee. She looked tired but determined, wearing a simple black dress that made her appear older than her years. The stress of recent weeks had carved subtle lines around her eyes, but her posture remained strong.

“Any progress?” she asked, setting the coffee down and settling into a chair beside Stefan.

Hannah turned her laptop screen toward Camille. “We found something that changes everything. Someone inside Meridian Technologies stole millions from their safety budget right before the factory explosion.”

Camille studied the financial records, her face growing pale as she understood the implications. “This proves Richard Pierce was sabotaged?”

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