Chapter 6
618words
"That's enough to press charges," the lawyer Yvonne introduced said. "But we need a more solid chain of evidence."
I decided to bait them.
At the quarterly company meeting, I announced a completely fake "breakthrough technology" that I claimed would revolutionize the entire industry.
When Maxwell heard that, his eyes lit up immediately.
After the meeting ended, I watched him hurry over to the reception desk and whisper something to Angelica, who immediately started furiously typing on her phone.
"They took the bait," Zachary murmured. "I've also found out he has a small startup in the city. It's set to go public later this year. What's your next move?"
"We wait," I said calmly. "Let them walk into the trap themselves."
On Friday night, our system showed someone had logged in using Maxwell's credentials to download core files. At the same time, security reported seeing Angelica entering the R&D lab.
"Now," I texted Zachary.
When we arrived with security and the police, she was copying data onto a flash drive. She was caught red-handed. Her face went pale, but she tried to keep her composure.
"I'm here on Mr. Sutton's orders to retrieve files," Angelica explained.
"He has plenty of assistants. Why would he need a receptionist sneaking around in the middle of the night?" Yvonne asked, rolling her eyes at how sloppy Angelica's explanation sounded.
"Is that so?" I asked.
I crouched down in front of Angelica and played an audio recording on my phone. The recording clearly stated that Maxwell had explicitly instructed her to act tonight, promising to take her abroad once she was done, where she could safely have the baby.
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.
"How did you…"
"You think I didn't know about you two?" I laughed bitterly.
"You've been scheming together since high school. Maxwell kept pushing me to apply to the same university, and you were always there, fanning the flames. Back then, I was blinded by my feelings, and that's why I fell right into your trap."
As the police cuffed her, she suddenly screamed hysterically, "Maxwell will come for me. He loves me."
"Don't count on it," Zachary said, pulling up a video on his tablet. It showed Maxwell was alone at the airport and was about to board a flight abroad.
Angelica's expression shifted from shock to despair, then twisted into pure hatred.
"Jocelyn, you think you've won? We'll take everything from you."
"Oh, shut up already," Yvonne said, balling up a tissue and stuffing it in her mouth.
Angelica made muffled, disturbing sounds that almost sounded like laughter, and was completely unhinged.
Maxwell was intercepted by police just before boarding his flight. In the interrogation room, he maintained his usual smooth composure.
"This is all a misunderstanding. Angelica acted on her own," he stated, spreading his hands innocently. "I was just going on a business trip. I had no idea what she was doing."
I watched his flawless performance through the one-way glass, my stomach turning. I'd fallen for this act for 20 years in my previous life.
"Look at this," Zachary said, handing me a phone. "It was found in a hidden compartment in his luggage."
The phone was flipped with photos tracking my daily movements. Recent ones showed my apartment building and the gym I frequented.
Even worse was a folder labeled "Plan", which detailed my routines, medication schedule, and drafts of several "accidents" he'd been considering. One of the circled items was the slow‑acting toxin.
