Chapter 519

Chapter 519:

Stefan was already typing on his laptop, searching for more information about James Whitfield. “Victoria, if James knew about the safety problems but sold his shares before the explosion, he protected himself financially while letting seventeen people die.”

“And then he manipulated Richard into blaming me for the disaster he helped create.” Victoria’s voice carried the weight of fifteen years of guilt lifting from her shoulders. “James knew about the defective equipment because he was part of the decision to use it. When people died, he made sure Richard focused his anger on Kane Industries instead of examining their own choices.”

Hannah was pulling up more financial records, her fingers flying across the keyboard. “If James Whitfield was behind the original manipulation, he might still be active. The Guardian that Alexander has been working with could be…”

“James.” Victoria finished the thought, her voice full of cold fury. “After fifteen years, he’s still trying to destroy me.”

Camille sank into the chair opposite Victoria, processing the implications. “Alexander has been working with the man who actually killed his uncle.”

“Not directly killed,” Stefan corrected grimly. “But James created the conditions that led to Richard’s suicide. He stole the safety funds, encouraged the cost-cutting, then made sure Richard blamed Victoria when everything fell apart.”

Victoria stood up slowly, her movements careful but determined. “I need to see everything you have on James Whitfield. Financial records, current address, business associations. If he’s the Guardian, if he’s been manipulating Alexander to finish what he started fifteen years ago…”

“What?” Camille asked.

“Then he’s not going to stop with destroying my reputation. He’s going to try to destroy everyone I care about.” Victoria’s eyes blazed with protective fury. “Including you.”

Hannah pulled up more search results on her screen. “James Whitfield currently operates several businesses through holding companies. Real estate, consulting, private investment. He has offices in Manhattan and Boston.”

“Manhattan?” Stefan said grimly. “That matches the location we traced for the Guardian’s communications.”

𝗢𝗻𝗅𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝗀𝖺𝗅𝖓𝗈𝗏𝗲𝗅𝗌⍿ⅽ𝗈𝗆

Victoria walked to her private safe, entering the combination with steady fingers. Inside were documents she had hoped never to need again—files on every person who had ever posed a threat to Kane Industries over the years.

“I kept records on James after the Meridian collapse,” Victoria said, pulling out a thick folder. “I suspected he was involved in the sabotage, but I could never prove it. The evidence was always just circumstantial.”

She opened the folder, revealing photographs, financial records, and detailed notes spanning fifteen years. “James Whitfield blamed me for destroying his partnership with Richard, even though he’s the one who sold his shares before the explosion. He’s spent fifteen years building resources and planning revenge.”

Camille studied a photograph of James Whitfield taken at a corporate event years ago. He looked ordinary, unremarkable—exactly the kind of person who could manipulate events from the shadows without drawing attention.

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