Chapter 24
Dressed impeccably in a tailored navy suit, Thomas exuded an air of calm authority. His shoulders were relaxed, his hands resting lightly on the chair’s armrests, but his piercing gaze betrayed an inner resolve. This wasn’t just another interview for him—it was a battle. And Thomas Hamilton never walked into a battle unprepared.
Across from him sat Miranda Calloway, one of the most respected and feared news anchors in the country. Her sharp instincts and no-nonsense approach had dismantled countless public figures, and tonight, she seemed ready for another.
The studio buzzed with the quiet tension that always preceded a live broadcast. Technicians whispered into headsets, adjusting lights and microphones while the anchor reviewed her notes. The bright overhead lights were relentless, reflecting off the polished surface of the sleek black table where Thomas Hamilton sat. But if the intensity fazed him, he didn’t show it.
Miranda began with her signature measured tone, her voice crisp and clear.
“We’re here today to discuss the ongoing controversy surrounding Emma Barrett. Over the last several weeks, she’s faced a slew of allegations—both professional and personal. These claims have sparked widespread debate, yet here you are, one of her most prominent allies, speaking publicly in her defense. Why now, Mr. Hamilton? Why her?”
Thomas didn’t hesitate. He leaned forward slightly, the movement deliberate, as he met her gaze head-on.
“Because the truth matters,” he said, his voice steady but laced with passion. “Emma Barrett isn’t just a colleague or a friend—she’s one of the most brilliant and hardworking people I’ve ever had the privilege of working with. The allegations against her are not only false—they’re calculated. This isn’t about her actions; it’s about a deliberate campaign to destroy her reputation.”
Miranda’s perfectly arched brow lifted, her pen pausing over her notepad.
“Calculated? That’s a bold accusation. Are you suggesting these claims were planned in advance?”
“I’m not suggesting it,” Thomas said, his tone sharpening. “I’m stating it outright. Emma Barrett has been targeted because she represents a threat—not to those who truly know her, but to those who want to control her. To those who benefit from her downfall. The people behind this smear campaign know exactly what they’re doing, and they’ll stop at nothing to discredit her.”
“You’re referring to Luka and Elliana Diaz, I assume?”Miranda’s expression grew sharper, the first hint of intrigue breaking through her professional composure. Thomas didn’t flinch.
“I’m referring to anyone who stands to gain from undermining Emma Barrett. She’s a force to be reckoned with. Her track record speaks for itself. She’s transformed Barrett Industries, bringing innovative strategies and unprecedented growth. Her competitors—and even some of her so-called allies—see her as a threat. And they’re desperate to remove her from the equation.”
Miranda’s pen resumed its steady movement as she took notes, her eyes flicking between Thomas and the camera.
“You’ve spoken about her professional impact. But the allegations extend beyond her work. Questions have been raised about her personal life, her motives, even her integrity. What do you say to those who claim that Emma Barrett has… strategically positioned herself?”
“I say they’re grasping at straws.“ Thomas’s eyes narrowed, a spark of anger flashing beneath his calm exterior. “Emma Barrett doesn’t need to ‘position’ herself. She earned her place at Barrett Industries through hard work, vision, and a refusal to compromise her principles and bring it to the Hamilton Corporation.”
“Principles?” Miranda leaned back slightly, folding her hands in her lap. “That’s quite a claim, given the nature of the accusations.”
“Yes, principles,” he said firmly, Thomas didn’t miss a beat. “Emma stands for what’s right—even when it’s not easy. She doesn’t cut corners. She doesn’t take shortcuts. And she doesn’t stoop to the kind of underhanded tactics her detractors are using to discredit her. That’s why she’s being targeted—because they know she won’t fight dirty in return.”
For a moment, the studio was silent save for the faint hum of the equipment. Miranda studied him, her sharp eyes searching for cracks in his armor. When she finally spoke, her voice was quieter but no less pointed.
“So, you’re saying this is less about Emma Barrett’s actions and more about fear. Fear of what she represents.”
“Exactly,” Thomas said without hesitation. His voice carried a quiet intensity that reverberated in the space. “Emma Barrett represents integrity, resilience, and an unwillingness to bow to intimidation. And that terrifies the people who rely on deceit and manipulation to maintain their power.”
As the camera zoomed in on his resolute expression, Miranda set her pen down, sensing the weight of the moment. But Thomas wasn’t finished. He leaned forward, his gaze locking with hers.
“And let me be clear,” he said, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. “They may think they’ve won by smearing her name. But they’ve underestimated Emma Barrett—and everyone who stands with her.”
Emma’s heart raced as she watched Thomas on the television, his voice steady but charged with emotion. Each word he spoke was a shield, protecting her, but she couldn’t ignore the weight of what he was doing. By defending her so publicly, he was painting a target on his own back. The media would twist his words if they could, and the thought made her chest tighten.
A sharp knock broke her focus. The nurse entered, moving quietly to adjust one of the many flower arrangements scattered around the room. Emma barely glanced at it—a lavish bouquet of white lilies and pink roses, its delicate fragrance filling the air. It was like all the others she’d received since the accident, each one bearing a generic note of sympathy.
But something caught her eye. Tucked deep within the flowers was a faint metallic glint.
“What is that?” Emma asked, her voice sharper than she intended. She pushed herself upright, her pulse quickening.
The nurse paused, frowning. “What is what?”
“There,” Emma said, pointing. “In the flowers.”
The nurse leaned in, her brow furrowing. Moments later, her hand emerged, clutching a tiny device—a hidden camera.
Emma’s blood turned to ice. “How long has that been there?”
“I don’t know exactly. Perhaps since you’ve got here, Mrs. Barret…” the nurse stammered, her face immediately went pale when the realization hit her mind. “I will call security right away.”
As soon as the nurse ran out of the room, Emma picked up the tiny piece of metal that had been helping her enemies, destroying her and everything she cared about all this time.
“You won’t get away with this as easily as you might think…” Emma whispered angrily to the camera before throwing it to the floor with all her might and crushing it with a vase of hated flowers.
The crystal shards that scattered across the ward floor did not bother her much, nor did the dazed eyes of the nurse who turned at the sound and began to pick up the glass.
Emma didn’t wait anymore. Her fingers flew to her phone, dialing Jack. As the line rang, her mind raced.
They’re watching me. They’ve been watching me this entire time.
The interview on the television continued in the background, Thomas’s voice unwavering. But all Emma could hear was the pounding of her own heart.
By the time her brother arrived, accompanied by a security team, Emma had found two more hidden cameras in other flower arrangements.
“Elliana,” she said through gritted teeth. “This has her name written all over it. She’s been watching me all that time, watching what I’ve been doing!”
Jack looked grim. “They don’t care about what you’re doing—they care about how they can use it. Vulnerable moments. Private conversations. Anything they can twist to fit their narrative.”
Her jaw clenched as she stared at the tiny devices that had been hidden in Elliana’s flowers. “So, this is their game,” she muttered, anger flickering in her eyes.
“It’s not just about surveillance—it’s about control.” Jack nodded grimly. “They’ll take whatever they find, no matter how small or innocent, and weaponize it. We have to assume there are more cameras or ways they’re monitoring you.”
That night, as Emma lay in bed, her thoughts spun. She checked her phone repeatedly, deleting private messages and reviewing the moments she’d shared in the hospital. But it wasn’t enough.
Jack’s prediction proved horrifyingly accurate. The next morning, Emma woke to a barrage of notifications on her phone. Gossip sites were flooded with leaked footage from her hospital room. The videos were heavily edited, capturing moments that made her look fragile, isolated, and distraught.
One particularly cruel clip showed her wiping tears from her face as Thomas adjusted her pillows. The headline accompanying it read:
“Emma Barrett’s Web of Manipulation: From Gold-Digger to Serial Seductress.”
Emma threw her phone onto the bed, her hands shaking. “How do they keep getting away with this?”
“They won’t,” Jack said, his voice cold as he scrolled through the footage. “We’ll trace this back to them, Emma. I promise.”
“This has gone too far. They’re violating every boundary.” Thomas, who had just walked into the room, caught sight of the headline and swore under his breath.
“What boundary?” Emma looked up at him, her eyes blazing. “They’ve destroyed them all. They’ve taken everything—my reputation, my privacy, my life.”
“No,” Thomas said firmly, taking her hand. “They haven’t taken you, Emma. And they won’t. We won’t let them.”
Jack worked tirelessly throughout the day, dissecting the leaks. He tapped into his network of tech experts, combed through metadata, and followed the trail of digital breadcrumbs. By evening, he had his answer.
“And as I’ve thought—it is them,” he said, dropping his phone onto the table with a triumphant smirk. “Luka’s tech team. They routed the footage through three different servers, but they didn’t cover their tracks well enough.”
