CHAPTER 6 — The Admiral’s Testimony
The courtroom was never supposed to become a battlefield.
But everyone knew that was exactly what it had become.
Three days after the truth about Black Tide began leaking, Reed Global Holdings lost nearly twenty percent of its market value.
Investors panicked.
Government officials demanded answers.
Journalists surrounded the headquarters day and night.
The empire my father built over decades was shaking.
And Arthur Reed did what powerful men always do when they are cornered.
He fought back.
The first thing he did was attack my credibility.
News channels received anonymous reports claiming:
"Former Commander Celeste Reed suffers from trauma-related memory distortion."
"Military accident was misinterpreted due to psychological stress."
"No evidence proves Reed Global involvement."
They weren't denying the documents.
They were attacking the person who revealed them.
My father understood something I had learned years ago.
When you cannot destroy the truth...
Destroy the person telling it.
I watched the news from Admiral Reed's office.
The screen showed my father's lawyers standing outside the courthouse.
"He built an empire by controlling the narrative."
Admiral Reed said quietly.
I looked at him.
"And now he's trying to control mine."
He nodded.
"Exactly."
For years, Arthur Reed convinced everyone that I was the problem.
The rebellious daughter.
The emotional daughter.
The daughter who couldn't handle pressure.
But today...
That story would end.
Because today...
The person who witnessed everything would speak.
Admiral Thomas Reed.
The courthouse was packed.
Reporters filled every corner.
Cameras flashed as we entered.
My father arrived first.
Perfect suit.
Perfect expression.
Perfect control.
Nathan followed him.
But he looked different.
The confidence was gone.
The arrogance had disappeared.
Because now he knew.
The truth wasn't coming for his company.
It was coming for him.
Then I arrived.
The moment I stepped inside...
The room changed.
People didn't see a disgraced daughter anymore.
They saw the commander who survived.
The woman with scars.
The woman who refused to leave her crew behind.
Arthur's lawyer stood immediately.
"Your Honor, we object to the inclusion of Admiral Reed as a witness."
The judge looked up.
"On what grounds?"
"Personal bias."
A few people in the courtroom whispered.
The lawyer continued.
"Admiral Reed has a personal connection to the defendant."
I almost smiled.
Because that argument was ridiculous.
The man who knew the truth was being accused of being too close to it.
Before the judge could answer...
Admiral Reed stood.
"Your Honor."
The entire room became silent.
"I spent thirty-two years serving my country."
His voice carried across the courtroom.
"I have witnessed war."
"I have witnessed betrayal."
"I have witnessed commanders make impossible decisions."
A pause.
"But I have never witnessed anything more disgraceful than watching a father allow his own daughter to carry the blame for his crimes."
The courtroom erupted.
Arthur's expression changed.
"Admiral—"
The judge struck the gavel.
"Order!"
But the damage was already done.
Admiral Reed took the witness stand.
The lawyer approached.
"Admiral, you claim Commander Celeste Reed was responsible for saving your crew during the Black Tide incident?"
"Yes."
"You were not on the ship."
"No."
"So your information is based on reports?"
Admiral Reed looked directly at him.
"No."
The lawyer paused.
"Then what is it based on?"
The admiral's answer was simple.
"The survivors."
The courtroom went silent.
"Survivors who were ignored."
The lawyer frowned.
"I don't understand."
Admiral Reed looked toward me.
"They survived because Celeste Reed refused to abandon them."
A pause.
"Yet after they returned..."
His expression hardened.
"They were ordered to remain silent."
The room exploded.
Arthur's lawyer immediately objected.
"Speculation!"
The judge looked at Admiral Reed.
"Do you have evidence?"
The admiral reached into his folder.
"Yes."
He placed documents on the table.
"Military communication logs."
The judge examined them.
"What do these show?"
Admiral Reed answered:
"That rescue reports were altered after the incident."
Everyone froze.
My father remained motionless.
Too motionless.
I knew him.
That was his fear expression.
The one nobody else recognized.
The lawyer picked up the documents.
"These records don't prove Mr. Reed ordered anything."
Admiral Reed nodded.
"Correct."
A pause.
"They prove something worse."
The courtroom waited.
"They prove someone inside Reed Global had access to classified military information."
The lawyer turned.
"Who?"
Admiral Reed looked at my father.
"Arthur Reed."
Silence.
Then Nathan suddenly stood.
"No."
Everyone looked at him.
His face was pale.
"No, you don't understand."
The judge frowned.
"Mr. Reed, sit down."
But Nathan wasn't listening.
"Father didn't know everything."
My heart stopped.
Arthur looked at him.
"Nathan."
But Nathan continued.
"He thought he was protecting the company."
The courtroom became silent.
I stared at my brother.
For the first time...
He wasn't defending himself.
He was afraid.
"Then who was controlling him?"
I asked.
Nathan looked at me.
And whispered:
"Victoria."
The name moved through the courtroom.
My father's lawyer immediately interrupted.
"This is speculation."
But Nathan kept going.
"She approached me first."
Everyone froze.
I looked at him.
"What?"
Nathan swallowed.
"Victoria Hale knew about Black Tide before it happened."
Arthur's face changed.
"You never told me."
Nathan looked at his father.
"You never asked."
The words cut deep.
Because everyone understood.
The Reed family wasn't destroyed by one betrayal.
It was destroyed by years of silence.
The judge ordered a recess.
As everyone stood...
My father walked past me.
For a moment...
I thought he would say something.
Anything.
Instead, he whispered:
"Your mother knew."
I froze.
"What?"
Arthur didn't look at me.
"Eleanor discovered Victoria's plan years ago."
My heart started racing.
"Then why didn't she tell anyone?"
My father closed his eyes.
"Because she tried."
A pause.
"And that's why she died."
The world seemed to stop.
Before I could ask another question...
A loud noise came from outside.
People started shouting.
Security rushed into the courtroom.
A guard ran toward the judge.
"Sir..."
His face was pale.
"We have a situation."
The judge stood.
"What happened?"
The guard looked around.
Then whispered:
"Someone hacked the courthouse system."
The screens around the room suddenly turned on.
Every monitor displayed the same message.
YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE WRONG ENEMY.
Everyone froze.
Then another line appeared.
CELESTE REED KNOWS THE TRUTH ABOUT BLACK TIDE.
A pause.
BUT SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHY SHE WAS CHOSEN.
My blood turned cold.
Because the message wasn't about my father.
It wasn't about Nathan.
It wasn't even about Victoria.
It was about me.
The final message appeared.
ASK YOUR FATHER WHO YOUR REAL ENEMY IS.
Slowly...
Every eye in the courtroom turned toward Arthur Reed.
May you like
And for the first time...
The billionaire who controlled an empire looked completely powerless.
