Gasping, Elara stared at the glowing monitor. Her blood ran cold. The evidence, painstakingly pieced together by Caspian, pointed to Aris. His own uncle. Caspian's jaw tightened, a muscle twitching near his temple. "It can't be," he murmured, his voice rough with disbelief. "Aris... he practically raised me." "The timestamps don't lie, Caspian," Elara said softly, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. "These modifications, the access logs... they're all linked to his credentials." A bitter taste filled her mouth. The man who had seemed like a pillar of integrity, a scientific visionary, was the very person sabotaging Thorne Bio-Med from within. And now, he knew they were onto him. Fear, cold and sharp, pierced through her. Aris was dangerous. If he suspected they knew, what would he do? Her phone buzzed, vibrating on the desk. She ignored it, her gaze fixed on Caspian's stricken face. He looked like his entire world had just crumbled. "He's been diverting research," Caspian finally managed, his voice barely a whisper. "Selling proprietary data. The modified protocols... they wouldn't just delay the cure. They'd make it ineffective, maybe even harmful." "He knew the potential for a breakthrough," Elara added, a knot forming in her stomach. "He knew what was at stake." Suddenly, the office door burst open. Ms. Davies, head of HR, stood there, her face grim. Behind her, two burly security guards. Elara's heart hammered against her ribs. This wasn't a coincidence. "Ms. Vance, Mr. Thorne," Ms. Davies began, her tone formal and chilling. "We have a serious situation." "What is it, Ms. Davies?" Caspian asked, his voice regaining some of its usual authority, though the tremor was still present. "A massive data breach," she stated, her eyes flicking to Elara. "Proprietary research, patient data, financial records... it's all over the dark web." Elara felt a sudden lurch. Her stomach dropped. She knew exactly what was coming. "And the preliminary investigation," Ms. Davies continued, her voice laced with accusation, "points directly to your workstation, Ms. Vance." A gasp escaped Elara's lips. "That's impossible!" she cried, pushing back from her chair. "I haven't uploaded anything, I haven't even accessed those files!" "We have logs, Ms. Vance," one of the security guards interjected, his voice flat. "Your login, your terminal. Specific files accessed and then disseminated." Caspian stepped forward, his eyes blazing. "This is absurd! Elara has been working with me on security, trying to *prevent* a breach, not cause one!" Ms. Davies shook her head, a cold pity in her eyes. "The evidence is compelling, Mr. Thorne. It appears Ms. Vance utilized her elevated access to siphon off critical data." Elara's mind raced, connecting the dots. Aris. He'd known they were close. This was his move. A preemptive strike, designed to discredit her, to silence her. "Someone framed me," Elara insisted, her voice trembling but firm. "Someone knew we were investigating and planted this." "Coincidentally, just as a major breach occurred?" Ms. Davies raised an eyebrow. "That's a convenient narrative, Ms. Vance." "It's true!" Elara pleaded, looking desperately at Caspian. He believed her. His eyes, though still reeling from the shock of his uncle's betrayal, held unwavering trust. "Elara is innocent," Caspian declared, his voice firm. "We just uncovered evidence of another party responsible for internal sabotage. This is a diversion." Ms. Davies's gaze hardened. "Mr. Thorne, you're obviously emotionally compromised. We're talking about a multi-million dollar data leak, potentially crippling the company and jeopardizing patient trust. We can't afford to be sentimental." The security guards moved closer. Elara felt a chill seep into her bones. Her sister. Mia's treatment. The funds for her surgery were tied to Thorne Bio-Med's success, to Elara's continued employment. If she was implicated in this, everything would be lost. Mia's only hope, shattered. The thought alone was a physical blow. "I need to see the logs," Elara demanded, her voice regaining some strength. "I can prove this isn't me. Someone spoofed my credentials, or used a backdoor." "All in due time, Ms. Vance," Ms. Davies said, her voice now colder than ice. "For now, we need you to cooperate. You're being placed on immediate administrative leave. All company access is revoked." "You can't do this!" Caspian protested, stepping between Elara and the guards. "This is a witch hunt!" "Mr. Thorne, please step aside," Ms. Davies warned, her hand already reaching for her phone. "Unless you wish to be implicated in obstructing a corporate investigation." Caspian hesitated, his fists clenching at his sides. He knew the rules, the legal ramifications. He couldn't risk his own position, not now. Not when he was Elara's only real ally inside. Elara saw the conflict in his eyes. He hated it, but he had to comply. She gave him a small, almost imperceptible shake of her head. Don't risk yourself for me, her eyes pleaded. "I'll go," Elara said, her voice barely a whisper. "But I won't stop fighting this. I am innocent." One of the guards took her arm, his grip surprisingly gentle. He led her out of the office, past the startled faces of other employees. Whispers followed her, like a swarm of angry bees. Corporate espionage. Data thief. Traitor. Each word was a dagger. Her reputation, meticulously built, now in tatters. Walking through the polished halls, Elara felt a profound sense of injustice. Aris Thorne. He wasn't just a mole; he was a master manipulator. He had seen their move, anticipated it, and countered with devastating precision. She imagined his smirk, hidden behind a facade of concern. He had not only framed her but had likely secured his own position, shifting all suspicion away from himself. Outside the building, the crisp autumn air did little to clear her head. Her phone vibrated again. This time, she looked. It was an unknown number. Hesitantly, she answered. "Ms. Vance?" a clipped, formal voice asked. "This is Attorney Robert Sterling, from the District Attorney's office." Elara's breath hitched. This was it. "We have reason to believe you are involved in a case of corporate espionage and intellectual property theft related to Thorne Bio-Med," Sterling continued, his voice devoid of emotion. "You are hereby summoned to appear for questioning at our offices tomorrow morning at 9 AM. Failure to comply will result in a warrant for your arrest." The line went dead. Elara stood there, the phone heavy in her hand, the world spinning around her. Framed. Summoned. Her sister's face flashed in her mind, pale and fragile. The hope she'd fought so hard to maintain, now hanging by a thread, threatened to unravel completely. She had to fight. For Mia. For her own name. For justice. This was just the beginning. She wouldn't let Aris win. She couldn't.

Chapter 36: Framed and Threatened