Page 82 of The Billionaire's Betrayal
I nodded.We were both still in shock, still dazed by what had just happened.
A light knock sounded at the door, and Leila discreetly entered the room, carrying a generous salad and a drink.
"Here, eat something," she said softly, offering it all to Eva.
Eva hesitated, looking at her lunch without much appetite.
"Think of the baby," Leila insisted.
Eva nodded and slowly nibbled at her meal.
Leila turned to me, her dark eyes filled with concern she was trying to mask.I briefly told her my version of events, my voice trembling slightly during the most difficult parts.Eva then spoke up, describing how Leila had been her beacon in the storm after the photo incident, preventing her from jumping to hasty conclusions.Gratitude overwhelmed me, and I squeezed our friend's hand.
"Thank you for believing in me," I whispered, my throat tight."For seeing beyond appearances."
The arrival of my parents and Lily broke this moment of intimacy.Their faces were marked with worry.My mother, usually so proud and reserved, embraced Eva without hesitation.
"Thank you for letting us know," she said, kissing her warmly."Thank you for being there for him."
Eva was so shocked by my mother's attitude that I almost laughed.I saw her standing there, eyes wide, unable to hide her surprise.
Lily then approached and wrapped her arms around me without a word.Her warmth immediately comforted me.When her body began to tremble slightly against mine, it took me a moment to understand.Then, I realized she was crying silently, her discreet sobs shaking her frail body.Moved, I held her tighter, sharing this silent moment.Shortly after, my parents, forgetting their quarrels, joined us.
The next day, the police inspector came to the hospital to take my statement before sending a team to search our home.On the living room coffee table, they found the glass I had drunk from that night, still abandoned there.After a preliminary analysis, the presence of GHB in the remaining liquid was confirmed.
"Furthermore, we found fingerprints on the glass used by Ms.Desprez," the inspector specified when he returned the following day, consulting his notebook."This clearly places Ms.Desprez at the scene when the drug was poured into your glass."
I frowned, a mixture of anger and perplexity washing over me.
"I don't understand why she didn't bother to clean my glass," I said."It would have been so simple to rinse out the whiskey residue to erase the evidence."
The inspector nodded thoughtfully.
"In my opinion, she didn't worry about that because she just wanted to discredit you in your partner's eyes," he explained calmly."She thought no one, not even you, would question your responsibility.In her mind, this setup was perfect: a drunk man, betraying his partner with another woman...She never imagined for a moment that you might drive in that state, much less have an accident that would bring everything to light."
It made sense.
"Without the accident, I would have assumed responsibility for what happened, convinced I had given in under the influence of alcohol."
The inspector nodded, his expression grave.
"Exactly.GHB is a powerful central nervous system depressant.Her goal was to make you look like the perfect culprit."
50.I just wanted a photo
EVA
Following the initial results of the investigation, Audrey was taken into custody.Like Tristan, I was horrified that she could have gone to such lengths to separate us.The inspector had informed us that during her first interrogation, she had vehemently denied any involvement, insisting there must have been a mistake.But the evidence was there: her fingerprints found on the glasses and Tristan's phone, the GHB residue, and the photo sent to me.
Backed into a corner, Audrey had finally cracked.
"I just wanted to take a photo, nothing more!I never wanted him to have an accident!"she had defended herself, desperate.
But her confessions weren't enough to lessen the severity of her actions.The investigators decided to open a thorough investigation on charges of administering illegal substances, harassment, and endangering the life of another.Each new piece of evidence revealed the extent of Audrey's manipulations, and the further the investigation progressed, the more evident it became that she had premeditated her plan.
The entire affair surrounding Audrey was hushed up.None of us wanted the press to get hold of it, especially considering the impact that Tristan's extended medical leave would have on the company.The accident had already sent shockwaves through Community Pilot.Both employees and shareholders had become alarmed about the company's future.The doctor's diagnosis was clear: Tristan would need several months, three or four at minimum, before he could fully resume his duties.In the meantime, he needed to focus on his rehabilitation and complete recovery.
This prolonged absence added enormous pressure on the shoulders of the management team, already tested by recent events.The decisions to come would be crucial for maintaining the company's stability and reassuring investors.
