Chapter 9
393words
Julian Winters had pushed for this.
He intended to use this opportunity to crush Lucas Reed once and for all.
At the hearing, Julian, as the aggrieved party, described Lucas's "reprehensible behavior" in vivid detail.
When Lucas's turn came, he simply said: "I'd like to call my witness to reveal what really happened that night."
He turned toward the door.
The door swung open, and Iris Sullivan walked in.
Gone was the timid, hesitant intern. This woman walked with purpose, her gaze steady and determined.
As a witness, she detailed how Julian had blackmailed her with compromising photos, forced her to entertain clients, and essentially offered her to Victor Morgan. She described how he'd later threatened her into taking all blame upon herself.
Her testimony sent shockwaves through the room.
All eyes swiveled from Lucas to Julian, whose face had turned ashen.
Julian's complexion shifted from white to mottled red with fury.
He'd explicitly warned Iris that speaking out would result in those photos being leaked online.
Julian glared at Iris, making a subtle gesture that clearly conveyed his threat.
Iris didn't flinch. She continued her testimony with the calm of someone who had nothing left to lose.
Julian, cornered and desperate, lashed out: "This is slander! False accusations are criminal offenses, Ms. Sullivan. Where's your evidence?"
"Right here!"
Lucas Reed stood up.
He played a recording—cleaned of background noise—for the entire room to hear.
Julian's cold, calculating voice echoed through the stunned conference room.
Julian was visibly panicking now.
Just as he opened his mouth to object, I rose from my seat.
As director of the medical examination center, I had every right to be there.
I approached the dean who was chairing the meeting and, under the startled gazes of everyone present, handed him a document.
"Dean, esteemed colleagues. I believe we need to reassess Dr. Julian Winters' character more thoroughly."
"I formally request that the hospital reopen the investigation into the medical accident involving Professor William Shaw from ten years ago."
"And to examine the true authorship of the research Dr. Winters is attempting to publish under his name."
My words were the final blow.
Julian stared at me, his eyes wide with shock and dawning horror.
He finally realized that none of this was coincidence.
