Close To Finding The Truth

The rumors of Lily's accident had reached every corner of Williams University. From the lecture halls to the dormitories, students speculated about what had happened during the excursion. The lack of clear answers only fueled their curiosity. 

"Did you hear? Lily Martinez is still in a coma." 

"I heard it wasn't an accident. Someone pushed her." 

"Who would do something like that?" 

"Maybe it was Alex Williams. They say he was acting strange after the trip." 

Alex, sitting alone in the corner of the cafeteria, overheard every word. He clenched his fists under the table, his knuckles turning white. The guilt weighed on him like an anchor, dragging him deeper into despair. 

Later that evening, Alex sat in his dorm room, staring blankly at the wall. Martin, who had noticed his friend's increasing agitation, decided to confront him. 

"Hey," Martin said, throwing a stress ball at Alex to get his attention. "You've been weird ever since the excursion. What's going on?" 

"Nothing," Alex muttered, not even flinching as the ball hit his shoulder. 

"Don't give me that," Martin said, crossing his arms. "You've been avoiding everyone, and now there are rumors going around that you had something to do with Lily's accident." 

Alex's eyes snapped to Martin, his glare icy. "What are you trying to say?" 

Martin shrugged. "I'm just saying that if there's something you need to get off your chest, now's the time." 

Alex stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "I don't have to explain myself to you or anyone else." 

"Fine," Martin said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "But whatever you're hiding, it's eating you alive. You might want to deal with it before it deals with you." 

Meanwhile, at the hospital, the Martinez family continued their vigil by Lily's bedside. Roland had set up a temporary office in the hospital's private lounge, ensuring he could oversee his daughter's care without neglecting his business. Lena rarely left Lily's room, her days and nights blending into one long blur of worry and exhaustion. 

As Lena sat by Lily's bedside one afternoon, she held her twin's hand tightly, her tears flowing freely. 

"Lily," she whispered, her voice breaking. "You've always been the strong one. You've always been the one to fight. So please, don't stop now. I need you." 

Roland entered the room quietly, placing a comforting hand on Lena's shoulder. "She's fighting, Lena. She's a Martinez. She won't give up." 

Unbeknownst to most, Roland had launched a private investigation into Lily's accident. He had hired a team of highly skilled investigators to uncover the truth. 

In a meeting with the head investigator, Roland leaned forward in his chair, his gaze sharp. "I want answers. Someone pushed my daughter, and I want to know who." 

The investigator nodded. "We're already making progress, sir. We've interviewed several students and staff members who were present during the excursion. There's a common name that keeps coming up—Alex Williams." 

Roland's eyes narrowed. "Who is he?" 

"A student at Williams University," the investigator explained. "He's known for being a troublemaker, and several witnesses claim he was acting strangely after the incident." 

"Dig deeper," Roland ordered. "I want concrete evidence." 

Alex's guilt had reached its breaking point. He couldn't sleep, couldn't focus, and every whisper about Lily felt like an accusation. He found himself wandering the campus late at night, his thoughts racing. 

One evening, he ended up near the library, where he ran into Rose. 

"Well, if it isn't the brooding Alex Williams," Rose said, her tone teasing. 

"Not now, Rose," Alex said, brushing past her. 

Rose grabbed his arm, stopping him. "What's your problem? You've been sulking around like a kicked puppy for weeks." 

Alex yanked his arm free, his eyes flashing. "Mind your own business." 

Rose smirked. "Fine, but you should know that people are starting to talk. If you're not careful, they might figure out what really happened." 

Alex froze, his heart pounding. "What are you talking about?" 

Rose shrugged, her smirk widening. "Just that secrets have a way of coming out." 

Back at the hospital, Roland's investigator provided him with new information. 

"We've uncovered footage from a student's phone that shows Alex Williams near the cliffside shortly before Lily fell," the investigator reported. 

Roland's jaw tightened. "That's enough to bring him in for questioning. Make it happen." 

"Yes, sir."