The shocking discovery of Evelyn's intended public exposure at the gala immediately altered the direction of their joint investigation. The quiet room seemed charged with a renewed, dangerous focus as the pieces of the puzzle began shifting into place.
By the following morning, Zeraida and Xaviere had begun systematically reviewing every single individual who could have possessed knowledge regarding the hidden evidence, Evelyn's private inquiry, and the upcoming Winterland event.
They sat side by side at the long mahogany table, cross-referencing old corporate ledgers with personal visitor logs.
One prominent name appeared repeatedly across both family networks, impossible to ignore.
Leontes Arventine. He was Xaviere's paternal uncle, a man whose shadow had loomed over the corporation for decades.
Unlike Xaviere's distant and intimidating public reputation, Leontes had carefully cultivated an entirely different, highly accessible persona within society.
