Kelvin had spent his entire career chasing power, precision, and control. But today?
Today, he was chasing the truth.He set up and early meeting with the Executives
The meeting had stretched on for hours, the atmosphere thick with scrutiny as the security team meticulously combed through logs, timestamps, and surveillance footage.
And then the evidence spoke.
Anna left on time. She never returned. The accusations against her were built on nothing but lies.
But Rose?
She lingered.
She paced the office long after everyone else had gone, her posture tense, her fingers twitching against the fabric of her coat. And when she finally left, she looked shaken.
Kelvin exhaled, his pulse heavy, his mind clicking into place.
This was it.
This was the moment where everything shifted.
He turned to the others Mr. Roberts, the IT specialists, the department heads and one by one, they nodded in agreement.
Something wasn't right.
And now?
It was time to confront the lie.
There was no room for hesitation.
He turned to Mr. Roberts, his voice steady but sharp. Pull everything we have on Rose's access logs. Every file she touched, every request she made in the past month!
Mr. Roberts nodded, already moving.
Kelvin leaned back, jaw tightening as the truth settled in.
Anna had been framed.
And he had been played.
But now?
Now, he was going to make sure Rose paid for it.
Anna was drowning in a pain she never thought she would have to endure.
It wasn't just about losing her job. It was about losing everything.
Her reputation.
Her dignity.
Her trust in Kelvin.
How could he let this happen?
After everything they had shared after that night, after the way he had held her, whispered those words so sincerely, how could he just discard her like she meant nothing?
Had he been lying? Had it just been empty words, spoken in a drunken haze?
Did he hate her now?
The thought was unbearable.
She had always been strong. Had survived her father's cruelty, had worked her way into a world where she belonged, only for it all to vanish in the blink of an eye.
And Rose…
Anna could not understand the depth of the woman's hatred. They had never had bad blood, never competed. So why had Rose gone so far to ruin her?
It was too much.
Her mother, Maria, cried with her, begged her to eat, pleaded with her to go outside, to breathe, to fight. But Anna was crumbling, the weight of her despair too heavy to bear.
She was getting weaker.
And at this rate, she wasn't sure she could survive it.
Maria refused to give up. Every morning, she placed a tray of food by Anna's bedside, hoping today would be different. Hoping today, her daughter would eat.
But Anna couldn't. The bitterness in her chest drowned out any hunger.
Then, on the seventh evening, just as the sun dipped below the horizon, a knock sounded at the door. It was firm, deliberate. Maria looked at Anna, but her daughter remained motionless. With a sigh, she wiped her hands on her apron and went to answer.
Kelvin.
Maria's sharp gasp carried through the room, and for the first time in days, Anna stirred. The sound of his name sent a current through her frail body, but she remained still. He didn't deserve her attention, not after what he had done.
Kelvin's voice was low, hesitant. I need to see her.
Maria crossed her arms, standing her ground. You've done enough.
I just need five minutes, he pleaded.
Silence.
Then, finally, Maria stepped aside.
Kelvin walked in, and Anna forced herself to sit up, even though every bone in her body ached from exhaustion. She looked at him not with longing, not with hope. But with quiet fury.
You should leave, she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
But Kelvin didn't move.
Kelvin stood frozen at the doorway, his heart sinking at the sight before him. The Anna he knew, the strong, determined woman who had carved her place in the corporate world, was now reduced to a fragile shadow of herself. Her eyes, once fierce and filled with purpose, were dull and swollen from relentless tears. He had done this to her. Not directly, but through his silence. Through his cowardice.
Shame clawed at his throat as he took hesitant steps forward. Anna…His voice cracked, but she barely reacted. She sat slumped on the edge of the bed, her hands gripping the fabric of her dress like it was the only thing keeping her together.
Kelvin swallowed hard, forcing the words out. I'm so sorry.
Anna's chest rose and fell in shallow, broken breaths. She didn't look at him. Didn't say a word.
I should have fought for you. I should have He clenched his fists, unable to finish. The guilt was suffocating.
When he finally found the strength to continue, his voice was slow, careful. It was Rose. She set you up.
That made her blink. Her head tilted slightly, but still, she didn't meet his gaze.
She planted your ID card and the company laptop, he continued, stepping closer. The CCTV footage and the access logs… They tell the whole story. She framed you, Anna.
Her breath hitched, and for the first time in days, something shifted inside her a spark of life, a flicker of hope.
Kelvin reached out, desperate to reassure her, to undo the damage he had caused. You've been vindicated. The truth is out.
Anna let out a sharp, strangled gasp, and suddenly the dam burst. The tears she had been holding in, the pain that had weighed her down, came rushing out in raw, uncontrollable sobs. She pressed her hands against her face, shaking violently, as relief and agony collided inside her.
Kelvin dropped to his knees before her, his own eyes wet. He had never felt so helpless. He had never felt so ashamed.
Anna's voice, when she finally spoke, was hoarse and broken. Why?
It wasn't just a question about Rose. It was about everything. About him. About the betrayal. About why she had to endure this.
Kelvin lowered his head, unable to answer. But one thing was clear he had to make it right.