Chapter 6 - Exposing the Cipher
"Stand down," Nathaniel’s voice echoed through the room like a thunderclap.
The two police officers hesitated, recognizing the billionaire owner of Ashcombe Biotech immediately.
"Nathaniel, have you lost your mind?" Lady Beatrice snapped, stepping into the room with her chin held high. "This woman is a dangerous fraud! Desmond discovered her true identity hours ago. She infiltrated our home under a false name using forged documents!"
"She didn't forge anything," Nathaniel said, stepping directly between the police officers and Willow, shielding her and the sleeping Leo behind his broad frame. "She was hired by me. And you, Mother, are trespassing in my private residence."
"Nathaniel!" Camilla stepped forward, her hands fluttering in dramatic dismay. "We are doing this to protect you and the girls! She has a criminal record regarding child endangerment—"
"She has a non-disclosure agreement signed by Desmond Kerr!" Nathaniel shouted, turning his fierce gaze onto Desmond, who had just appeared in the doorway behind Lady Beatrice, looking distinctly uncomfortable. "Isn't that right, Desmond?"
Desmond cleared his throat, adjusting his silk tie. "Nathaniel, this is a delicate legal matter involving proprietary research owned by Ashcombe Biotech—"
"It is a crime," Nathaniel corrected, his voice dangerously low. "You framed a mother to protect corporate profits. You weaponized the legal system against an innocent woman whose only sin was finding a cure that your shareholders couldn't monetize."
"That is absurd!" Lady Beatrice sneered. "Officers, do your duty!"
"If these officers lay a single finger on Miss Hart," Nathaniel said smoothly, pulling his smartphone from his pocket, "I will publish the complete server logs of Ashcombe Biotech's Surrey subsidiary to every major news outlet in Europe within five minutes."
A dead silence fell over the hallway. Desmond turned white as a sheet. "Nathaniel... you wouldn't."
"Try me," Nathaniel said. "Marcus, my security chief, spent the last three hours cracking the encrypted archive on the private server you tried to purge four years ago, Desmond. I have the emails. I have the signed memos where you explicitly ordered the destruction of Willow’s clinical trial data."
Desmond stepped back, his posture deflating entirely. He looked at Lady Beatrice, whose expression of aristocratic confidence was rapidly turning into sheer horror.
"Officers," Nathaniel said, looking at the bewildered policemen. "There has been a mistake. My mother and her associates were just leaving. If you wish to take a statement regarding corporate fraud and evidence tampering, Mr. Kerr here will be delighted to accompany you to the station."
The officers looked at Desmond, then at Nathaniel. "Sir?" one officer asked Desmond.
Desmond swallowed hard, knowing he was completely trapped. "I... I think it would be best if we discussed this at the office, officers."
Without another word, Desmond turned and walked down the hall, followed closely by the two policemen. Camilla, sensing the tide had turned irrevocably, backed away slowly and slipped down the corridor without uttering a word.
Lady Beatrice stood alone in the doorway, staring at her son as if she were seeing him for the very first time.
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"You are destroying this family's legacy for a servant," she hissed.
"No, Mother," Nathaniel said quietly, looking back at Willow, who was holding her quiet, sleepy son in her arms. "I am saving it from you."
