Chapter 3: Truth Beneath the Cameras
Chapter 3: Truth Beneath the Cameras
As paramedics carefully lifted Maren onto a stretcher, Damien refused to leave her side.
Before the ambulance doors closed, she squeezed his hand.
"Our baby..."
"I know," he whispered.
"I'll protect both of you."
Back at Briarwell Academy, Damien's legal team requested the security recordings.
Headmaster Ellison repeated the same excuse.
"The hallway cameras weren't working."
A quiet voice interrupted him.
"They were."
Everyone turned.
The school's elderly security technician walked into the ballroom carrying a portable hard drive.
"They stopped recording because someone ordered me to disconnect the live monitor."
He looked directly at the headmaster.
"But the backup server never stopped saving footage."
Minutes later, the recordings appeared on the ballroom's giant projection screen.
Every guest watched Chloe pour the drink onto the floor.
They watched her mock Maren.
They watched her grab the trash bag.
They watched Maren lose her balance and crash onto the marble.
Then came another recording.
Chloe quietly slipping her expensive watch into her own designer purse moments before accusing Maren of stealing it.
Gasps echoed throughout the hall.
Chloe's father slowly closed his eyes.
"Chloe..."
"I can explain."
"No," he replied quietly.
"I think everyone finally understands."
Headmaster Ellison lowered his head in shame.
May you like
Years of protecting wealthy donors had cost him the very thing a school was supposed to defend.
Justice.
