Chapter 14 - PROJECT LANTERN
The six million dollars had funded Project Lantern.
Vale Biodyne's records described it as an early-stage pediatric diagnostic program.
Officially, it never reached clinical testing.
Evan's hidden files told another story.
Children from low-income clinics had been enrolled in what parents believed were routine blood-screening programs.
Their samples were used to test experimental genetic markers.
Consent records were incomplete.
Some were altered.
One child suffered a severe reaction during an unauthorized procedure.
The company buried the incident.
Charles Vale approved settlements through shell charities.
Simon moved money to hide the payments.
Evan discovered it.
That was why he had to be discredited.
Celeste sat silently while Rebecca explained.
“This wasn't just accounting fraud.”
“No,” Adrian said.
“It was human experimentation.”
The words made him sick.
His father's company.
His family's name.
His signature had not authorized Project Lantern.
But he had inherited the empire built over it.
Simon understood the danger.
If the truth became public, Vale Global could survive financially.
But the Vale family's reputation would not.
Julian reacted differently.
“We can't release this.”
Adrian turned.
Julian continued.
“You'll destroy the company.”
“Children were used.”
“Fifteen years ago.”
Thomas's face hardened.
“That matters to you?”
Julian looked away.
Adrian understood that Julian had not changed nearly as much as he hoped.
“Rebecca.”
“Yes?”
“Prepare full disclosure.”
Julian stepped forward.
“Adrian.”
“All of it.”
“You'll lose billions.”
“Then we lose billions.”
“Thousands of employees—”
“Will still have jobs if we rebuild honestly.”
“You don't know that.”
“No.”
Adrian looked around the room.
“But I'm finished using ignorance as an excuse.”
Celeste stared at him.
Something shifted in her expression.
Not forgiveness.
Respect, perhaps.
The disclosures were prepared for regulators.
Before they could be filed, Julian disappeared.
Along with Evan's original flash drive.
Adrian found his brother's room empty.
A note remained.
I'M SORRY. I CAN'T LET YOU BURN EVERYTHING OUR FATHER BUILT.
Thomas cursed.
Celeste closed her eyes.
Adrian simply stood still.
The betrayal hurt.
But it did not surprise him anymore.
At 3:15 a.m., Simon Hart received a call.
Julian.
“I have the drive.”
Simon smiled.
“Where?”
“Old Vale Biodyne laboratory.”
“Come alone?”
“You first.”
Simon arrived thirty minutes later.
Julian waited inside the abandoned facility.
“You said you'd protect the company,” Julian said.
“I will.”
“You said Adrian would only be removed temporarily.”
“Plans evolve.”
“You kidnapped a kid.”
Simon shrugged.
“Victor became enthusiastic.”
Julian's face tightened.
“You tried to kill Lowell.”
“No.”
Simon smiled.
“I simply stopped protecting him.”
Julian placed the flash drive on a table.
“I want Redhaven restored.”
“Of course.”
“And my immunity.”
“Certainly.”
“You're agreeing too easily.”
Simon laughed.
“You were always the smarter brother about people.”
He moved closer.
“But Adrian was smarter about business.”
Julian realized too late.
Victor Raines emerged behind him.
At that exact moment, the facility doors burst open.
Federal agents entered.
Adrian walked behind them.
Julian stared.
Simon looked almost amused.
“Tracking device?”
Julian touched his jacket.
Adrian shook his head.
“The flash drive.”
Simon glanced at it.
Maya had taped a tiny tracking tag inside its old plastic casing before anyone realized Julian might take it.
Simon laughed softly.
“The gardener's daughter again.”
Adrian nodded.
“You should've paid more attention to quiet people.”
Victor reached toward his waistband.
Agents shouted.
He stopped.
Simon did not resist.
Not yet.
Instead he looked at Adrian.
“You still don't understand.”
“Understand what?”
Simon smiled.
“This isn't my ending.”
Then every phone in the room vibrated simultaneously.
A breaking-news alert.
FEDERAL DOCUMENTS LEAKED: VALE FAMILY LINKED TO SECRET CHILD MEDICAL PROGRAM.
Project Lantern was public.
But the leak had been altered.
Adrian's name appeared as the executive who authorized it.
Fifteen years earlier.
When Adrian had not even worked in that division.
May you like
Simon looked at him.
“Now let's see how much honesty costs you.”
