Chapter 6 - THE ATTACK THAT CHANGED EVERYTHINGThree days later, Natalie was walking across campus when she noticed a black SUV following her.
She changed direction.
The SUV followed.
Natalie quickened her pace.
Then someone grabbed her backpack.
She spun around.
A man in a dark jacket pulled hard.
Natalie fought back.
“Let go!”
The man shoved her.
She hit the ground.
Her backpack fell open.
The man grabbed the tablet containing the evidence.
Natalie reached for it.
He kicked it away.
Then suddenly—
“HEY!”
Amber came running across the courtyard.
The man froze.
Students began turning.
Amber grabbed Natalie's arm and pulled her away.
The man ran toward the SUV.
A campus security officer chased him.
The vehicle sped away.
Natalie sat on the pavement, breathing hard.
Amber crouched beside her.
“Are you okay?”
Natalie nodded.
“My tablet.”
Amber picked it up.
The screen was cracked.
“But the drive is still inside.”
Natalie exhaled.
Then she looked at Amber.
“You saved me.”
Amber shook her head.
“You saved me first.”
They sat silently.
For the first time, there was no rivalry between them.
Only understanding.
Later that afternoon, the investigators confirmed the attacker had been connected to one of Vance Atelier's contractors.
Victoria was no longer simply facing financial scrutiny.
She was facing obstruction charges.
But Victoria still had one weapon.
Her influence.
She called the Dean.
She threatened lawsuits.
She threatened to withdraw donations.
She threatened to expose university officials who had accepted gifts.
But then the Dean did something unexpected.
He refused.
“I won't protect you anymore.”
Victoria stared at him.
“You know what happens if I withdraw my support.”
“Yes.”
“You'll lose funding.”
“Maybe.”
She leaned forward.
“And you're willing to destroy the university?”
The Dean shook his head.
“No.”
He looked directly at her.
“You destroyed the university the moment you taught people that money made them untouchable.”
Victoria's expression darkened.
Meanwhile, Natalie returned to the old workshop.
She found her father there.
He was looking at the original Aurora prototype.
“I never thought I'd see it again,” Daniel said.
Natalie smiled.
“You should have.”
Daniel touched the leather.
His eyes filled with tears.
“I made this when I still believed people could be honest.”
Natalie took his hand.
“They can.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Did you find the truth?”
Natalie nodded.
“Most of it.”
“What about Victoria?”
“She'll face court.”
Daniel was silent.
Then he whispered,
“I don't want revenge.”
Natalie smiled.
“I know.”
“What do you want?”
Natalie looked around the workshop.
“I want your name back.”
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
That was the one thing he had never allowed himself to hope for.
But the fight wasn't over.
Because the Vance Atelier board had scheduled an emergency meeting.
And Amber had been named as the company's temporary heir.
The board expected her to protect the family empire.
Instead, Amber walked into the meeting carrying a box of evidence.
She placed it on the table.
“I am not here to save Vance Atelier.”
May you like
The board members stared.
“I am here to tell you how it will be rebuilt.”
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