12.The Mistake or Truth...

The photo haunted Stella. She had stared at it for hours, willing the pixels to shift, to reveal anything that would prove her brother's involvement was a mistake. However, the date stamp in the corner and the knowing look exchanged between Noah and Kai refused to change.

Her fingers trembled as she clutched her phone. The memory of Kai's unwavering support, warnings about Noah, and protectiveness all felt like lies now, tangled in a web of betrayal. She had questions. And this time, she wouldn't let anyone dodge them.

Kai's Apartment – Late Afternoon

Kai opened the door, a surprised smile on his face. "Stella? Everything okay?"

She stepped inside without a word, her coat trailing behind her like a storm cloud. She set her phone down on the kitchen counter, screen up, so the damning photo stared at him.

Kai's face shifted instantly—shock, recognition, and finally, resignation.

"You weren't supposed to see that," he muttered, running a hand through his messy hair.

"What am I looking at, Kai?" Stella demanded, her voice razor-sharp.

Kai avoided her eyes, leaning against the counter. "It's not what you think."

"Don't," she snapped, her voice cracking. "Don't you dare give me that line. Tell me the truth. Were you involved in the RISE Systems scandal? Did you help destroy Noah's career?"

His silence was louder than any confession.

She stepped closer, her hands clenched into fists. "Why, Kai? You're my brother. You're supposed to protect me. Instead, you've been lying to me this whole time!"

Kai's head snapped up, his eyes blazing. "Protect you? Is that what you think I've been doing? Stella, I've been trying to save you from him."

Her breath hitched, anger bubbling to the surface. "Save me? From what? Noah is the one who's been honest—"

"Honest?" Kai scoffed. "Do you even know what kind of man he really is? He didn't just step over Jonathan Ross; he burned anyone who got in his way. I saw what he was capable of, Stella. He wasn't just my best friend. He was my partner."

Stella froze. "Your partner?"

Kai sighed, pushing off the counter. "I invested in RISE, Stella. Before it all went public. Noah didn't know at first, but when he found out, he promised to make me whole when the company grew. Only, it didn't grow. It collapsed under Jonathan's failure and Noah's ambition."

Her mind reeled, trying to piece the fragments together. "So, what? You turned on him? You helped the board frame Jonathan to protect your money?"

Kai's face darkened. "I didn't have a choice. Noah was willing to sacrifice everything, including me, to keep the company alive. When the fallout came, I realized I couldn't trust him anymore. He became the kind of man I didn't recognize—calculating, ruthless. And I knew he'd hurt you, too."

Stella's chest ached, torn between the brother she had always trusted and the man she had fallen for. "So you lied to me. You let me think Noah was the villain, all while you were part of the chaos."

Kai's voice softened. "I didn't lie to hurt you, Stella. I did it to protect you from him."

"No," she said firmly, shaking her head. "You didn't do this for me. You did it for yourself. For your reputation. Your money."

Kai flinched, the truth of her words striking a nerve.

She grabbed her phone from the counter and turned toward the door. "I'm done with secrets. You can justify your actions all you want, but you don't get to decide who I trust. That's my choice."

Noah's Office – Dawson Tech Ventures

Noah was mid-conversation with his assistant when Stella barged in, her face pale but resolute.

"Miss Wilhelm—" the assistant began, but Noah raised a hand, signaling her to leave.

The door closed, leaving them alone.

"Stella," Noah began cautiously. "What's wrong?"

She placed her phone on his desk, showing him the photo.

He didn't flinch. Instead, he sighed and leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "I was wondering when you'd find this."

"You knew," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You knew Kai was involved, and you didn't tell me?"

"It wasn't my place," Noah said quietly.

"Not your place?" Her voice rose, and she stepped closer, her emotions boiling over. "Noah, this is my brother. You should've told me."

His gaze softened. "And what would you have done, Stella? You love your brother. I didn't want to put you in the middle of this."

"Well, guess what?" she snapped. "I'm already in the middle of it. Thanks to both of you."

Noah stood, his tall frame towering over her but his voice gentle. "I didn't want to hurt you. I've been trying to protect you from the fallout, but I see now that I should've been honest. I'm sorry."

Her anger wavered, but the weight of the revelations crushed her. "Why does it feel like everyone around me is making decisions for me? First Kai, now you."

Noah stepped closer, his dark eyes searching hers. "Because we care about you. But you're right—we've both been wrong. You deserve the truth, no matter how messy it is."

She looked away, tears threatening to fall. "I don't know who to trust anymore, Noah."

"You can trust me," he said, his voice steady. "I've made mistakes, but I will never lie to you. Whatever comes next, we face it together."

A knock interrupted them. Talia poked her head in, her expression grim. "Noah, we have a problem. The board just called an emergency meeting."

Noah's jaw tightened. "What now?"

"They've found out about the photo," Talia said. "And they're using it to call your leadership into question. They think you're hiding more."

Stella's heart sank as she realized the storm was far from over.

Noah turned to her, his expression resolute. "Stay close, Stella. This is going to get ugly."

The cracks beneath the surface were widening, threatening to shatter everything.