Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN THEY TRIED TO BLAMEThe next morning, Brooks Development suspended all construction at Riverside.
Vincent made the decision after reviewing Maya's preliminary findings.
The building was not ready for public use, but the discovery was still frightening.
A portion of the structure contained concrete that appeared significantly weaker than required.
Further tests would determine whether the affected sections needed to be removed and rebuilt.
For Vincent, the financial consequences were enormous.
For Caroline, the thought of children eventually entering an unsafe building was unbearable.
At breakfast, Mama Grace noticed Vincent reading a report instead of eating.
"Vincent."
He looked up.
"Yes, Mama?"
"Put that paper down for five minutes."
He sighed.
"I have a lot to do."
"And you won't accomplish any of it by starving yourself."
Blessing giggled.
"That's what Caroline always tells Daniel."
Daniel looked offended.
"I eat."
"Only when someone reminds you."
Caroline smiled.
Vincent finally put the report aside.
"All right. Five minutes."
Mama Grace nodded with satisfaction.
"Good."
But the peaceful moment ended when Vincent's phone began ringing.
His communications director was calling.
A local news website had published a story about the missing money.
The headline was devastating.
BROOKS DEVELOPMENT INVESTIGATES MILLIONS IN QUESTIONABLE PAYMENTS.
The article named Caroline Ellis as an employee whose credentials appeared on a disputed authorization.
It also stated that she was staying at Vincent's private residence.
The connection was presented as suspicious.
Caroline read the story on her phone.
Her hands began trembling.
"They think I'm involved."
Vincent leaned closer.
"The article doesn't establish that."
"But people will believe it."
She scrolled through the comments.
Some readers accused her of stealing.
Others suggested Vincent had hired her because of a personal relationship.
A few made cruel remarks about her background.
Caroline locked her phone.
"I don't want Daniel and Blessing seeing this."
Mama Grace reached across the table.
"My dear, strangers can say many things. That doesn't make them true."
Caroline swallowed.
"I know. But it still hurts."
At the office, the situation grew worse.
Employees avoided her eyes.
Two women stopped talking when she entered the break room.
A manager who had once praised her attention to detail suddenly asked whether she should still have access to company files.
Caroline felt humiliated.
She had worked hard to earn everyone's respect.
Now her name was appearing beside accusations she had nothing to do with.
Around eleven, Priya requested a formal meeting.
Vincent attended for the initial discussion, but Priya made clear that an independent process would handle all decisions concerning Caroline's employment.
Caroline listened as Priya explained the next steps.
"We've preserved the relevant records. Our investigators are reviewing access logs, signatures, transaction controls, and the possibility of impersonation."
Caroline nodded.
"Do I need to stop working?"
"For the moment, you'll be placed on paid administrative leave while we complete the initial evidence review. It isn't a disciplinary finding."
Caroline lowered her eyes.
"I understand."
Vincent looked troubled.
But he did not interfere.
Caroline appreciated that.
If she was innocent, she wanted the evidence to prove it.
She did not want anyone saying that Vincent had cleared her simply because he liked her.
After the meeting, she returned to her desk.
She placed her notebook inside a drawer.
Then she looked at the small plant Blessing had given her on her first day.
A handwritten note was attached to the pot.
You can do anything, Caroline.
She carefully picked it up.
Nora appeared beside her.
"You're leaving?"
"Only for a little while."
Nora looked angry.
"This isn't right."
Caroline smiled sadly.
"Maybe the investigation will clear everything up."
Nora shook her head.
"Someone wanted this to happen."
Caroline looked at her.
"Then we have to trust the evidence."
When Caroline reached the mansion that afternoon, Daniel was already home.
He was sitting at the kitchen counter, staring at his phone.
She immediately knew something was wrong.
"Daniel?"
He looked up.
"Is it true?"
Caroline's heart sank.
"What did you hear?"
"Someone at school said you stole money from Mr. Vincent."
She sat beside him.
"No, Daniel. I didn't."
"I know you didn't."
His voice was angry.
"But they kept saying it."
Caroline placed a hand on his shoulder.
"People sometimes repeat things they don't understand."
"One boy said Mr. Vincent is only protecting you because you're his girlfriend."
Caroline closed her eyes.
"Daniel—"
"I told him to stop."
"What happened?"
Daniel looked away.
"He pushed me."
Caroline's expression changed.
"Did you fight?"
"No."
She exhaled.
"Good."
"I wanted to."
"I know."
Daniel looked at her.
"Why are people so cruel?"
Caroline thought carefully.
"Sometimes it's easier to judge someone than to understand them."
He stared at the floor.
"I hate seeing people talk about you."
She pulled him into a hug.
"You don't have to fight my battles for me."
Daniel hugged her back.
"But you're always fighting ours."
Caroline's eyes filled with tears.
"That's because I love you."
"I love you too."
That evening, Vincent returned home later than usual.
He found Caroline in the library.
She was sitting beside a window, reading one of Mama Grace's books.
"How was your day?" he asked.
Caroline gave a tired smile.
"You probably already know."
Vincent sat in a nearby chair.
"I'm sorry about the article."
She closed the book.
"You didn't write it."
"No, but it's happening because of my company."
Caroline looked at him.
"Then fix the company, Vincent. Don't make me another problem you have to solve."
He was silent.
She continued gently.
"I know you care about me. But I need the truth to come out properly."
Vincent nodded.
"You're right."
Caroline studied him.
"Can you promise me something?"
"Yes."
"Don't choose between protecting me and doing what's right."
Vincent looked directly at her.
"I won't."
She smiled.
"Good."
They sat quietly for several minutes.
Then Vincent said, "For what it's worth, I believe in you."
Caroline looked down.
"That means more than you know."
The following morning, Priya called with an important development.
The preliminary forensic examination had identified a serious inconsistency.
The electronic payment approval supposedly issued by Caroline had been routed through a privileged accounting service account.
Caroline had never been granted access to that account.
Even more troubling, the same account had been used to alter an approval record after the original transaction was processed.
Priya explained that the evidence strongly supported impersonation.
But the investigators still needed to identify who controlled the privileged account.
Caroline felt relieved for the first time in days.
Then Priya's tone changed.
"There's one more thing."
"What?"
"Someone accessed the restricted investigation folder during the night."
Caroline frowned.
"How?"
"We're investigating."
"Did they change anything?"
"The original evidence is preserved. But they downloaded a copy of Nora's statement."
Caroline gripped her phone.
"Does that mean they know she talked?"
"Yes."
At that exact moment, Vincent received a separate call.
Nora had failed to arrive at work.
Her desk was untouched.
Her phone was switched off.
May you like
And taped to her office door was a single sheet of paper.
SHE SHOULD HAVE KEPT QUIET.
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