Elena Harper stood in Vic Lang's ransacked agency office at midnight, floodlights carving harsh shadows over toppled safes and scattered drives. SWAT techs combed debris; Victor barked coordinates to prosecutors downtown. Julian wheeled beside her in hospital transport chair—bandages fresh, painkillers dulling edges but not resolve. Mom—Lydia Harper, name reclaimed—hovered at Elena's elbow, free but fragile, years of silence weighing her frame.
"Drives decrypted," Mia announced from the tac van outside, screens beaming. "Vic's empire mapped: Dalton forgeries, your bar hearing sabotage. He planted the evidence personally—silencing your inquiry into his hits."
Elena's fists clenched. Flashback clawed: that smug exec Dalton, Vic's puppet, grinning through her near-disbarment. "Targeted me to bury Mom's witness statement." Lydia nodded, voice threadbare. "Saw the collector hit. Vic 'protected' me—debts cleared, but owned. Left you safe from his world."
Julian's hand found Elena's knee, steadying. "Chains broken. Now his."
Vic's holding cell feed flickered live: cuffs chafing wrists, smirk fading under interrogation lights. "Deal?" he rasped to DA. "Immunity for the network."
Sophia Vance cracked first—orange jumpsuit swallowing her frame in the adjacent room. "Vic scripted everything," she spilled, voice syrup turned bitter. "Pregnancy hoax, witness actor, Reyes smears. Immunity—please." Tears crocodile; camera caught her glancing at notes—deal signed.
Cops hauled evidence crates: therapy twists, deepfake blueprints, Dalton ledgers tying back to Elena's dad—gambling debts Vic "settled" with blood. Agency execs watched via feed, contracts reinstating Julian mid-stream.
But the burner pinged—all devices synced. Distorted voice slithered—not Vic's timbre: "Half-sister knows, Reyes. Blood calls. Ask Ethan."
Julian's face drained. "What half-sister?"
Ethan shifted uneasy in the doorway, laptop clutched. "The PA—Lila Voss. Fired her last year for 'theft.' Her daughter, Riley... 25. Your age. Vic dug dirt: old fling with Dad before Mom. DNA whisper from agency files."
Lydia gasped. "Your father... indiscretions. Rumors."
Julian shoved to feet, wincing—bandage spotting red. "Ethan—knew?"
Brother's eyes dropped. "Suspected. Vic used it—threatened exposure unless I fed leaks. Damage control." Guilt cracked his polish. "Protected you."
Betrayal stung. Elena stepped between, voice whip. "Proof. Now."
Ethan synced drive: paternity test stub, Riley Voss—Julian's spitting image in attached photo. Vic's margin note: "Leverage gold. Frame her next."
Netizens caught fragments from raid leaks:
"Reyes family bombshell? #HalfSisterTwist"
"Vic's web endless—Harper dynasty rises #TeamElena"
***
Dawn broke over courthouse steps, public hearing convened emergency. Elena led unofficial prosecution—bar cleared her provisionally, Victor's pull ironclad. Packed gallery: paps, fans, execs. Julian testified from wheelchair, voice gravel-steady: "Deepfakes. Vic's grudge—role theft years back. Confessions recorded."
Sophia took stand, immunity microphone amplifying lies crumbling. "He forced me. Scripts, moles—PA, stylist, Ethan's lapses." Jury murmurs; deepfake expert demoed glitches live—gala witness melting on screen.
Vic chained at defense table, eyes venom on Elena. "Harper witch-hunt. Dead man's switch ticks."
Judge banged gavel. "Remanded. Full trial pending. Bail denied."
Elena cornered him recess whisper: "Switch? Riley?"
Vic leaned close, breath foul. "She's coming. Blood exposes Reyes—abuser genes."
Outside, first public alliance: Julian pulled Elena close amid flashes—hand possessive on waist, lips brushing temple. "Ours now." Chemistry crackled undeniable; gallery whooped.
Ethan approached hesitant, Riley's photo extended. "Confront her? Vic's play."
Julian nodded grim. "Family first."
Lydia touched Elena's arm tentative. "Forgive my silence?"
Steps toward healing. "Start here."
***
Night cloaked the hospital reunion—private suite, Julian propped abed. Riley Voss arrived wary: sharp features mirroring his, dark hair tousled. "Vic called. Threats. DNA... real?"
Julian exhaled. "Dad's mess. Not yours."
Riley's laugh brittle. "Grew up poor—PA mom scraping. Vic dangled agency gig if I framed you. Refused." Tears welled. "Half-blood or not—family?"
Embrace awkward, genuine. Elena watched, walls softening further. Lydia joined circle—fractured kin mending.
But Mia's urgent ping shattered peace: "Victor's office—new leak. Ethan's emails. He hired the PA knowing."
Ethan's phone lit simultaneous: unknown text. "Switch activated. Brother sold you out."
Attached: forged emails—Ethan scripting leaks from day one.
Betrayal deepened. Julian's eyes iced. "Ethan..."
Brother paled doorway. "Framed. Vic's last play."
Cops swarmed hall—warrant incoming.
Family forged in fire. But whose hand struck final blow?
Riley's gaze hardened. "I know Vic's mole. Inside job."
Warehouse ghosts stirred anew. Trust fractured.
Who pulled the deepest string?