Chapter 386

Evelyn's breath hitched as she watched Harrison's fingers fly across the keyboard with impossible speed. Even Elliot, her brilliant hacker brother who went by the codename AK, had warned her this system was nearly impenetrable.

Yet Harrison had bypassed all security protocols in minutes. Not only that - he'd retrieved classified files!

"Harrison, how did you—"

Callum cleared his throat sharply from the corner. His jaw clenched as he fought the urge to intervene, knowing any explanation might reveal Harrison's carefully guarded secrets.

Harrison straightened his tie instead of answering. "I've restored your original personnel records. The falsified data has been erased."

A weight lifted from Evelyn's shoulders. Juliette's carefully constructed lies were crumbling.

"But..." Harrison's voice turned grave. "There's no trace of your original design in the archives. The one Juliette claims you plagiarized."

Evelyn's blood ran cold.

"That's impossible," she whispered.

Harrison's expression darkened. "Only one explanation - it was never officially logged into the system."

Her knees nearly buckled. Without that evidence, her reputation remained tarnished. Juliette had exploited this very loophole to destroy her.

Evelyn's nails bit into the documents as her gaze snapped to the two photographs Harrison had uncovered.

"These images," she demanded. "What am I missing?"

Harrison's lips curved. Finally, she'd noticed his real discovery.

"The first is Juliette's original submission five years ago - deleted but recovered. The second is her current portfolio."

Evelyn's mind raced as she compared them. The stylistic differences were staggering.

"These weren't created by the same designer," she realized aloud.

Harrison's approving nod sent chills down her spine.

They'd reached the same terrifying conclusion simultaneously.

"Look closer," Harrison murmured. "Beyond the superficial similarities, there's one immutable difference. Even plastic surgery can't alter this."

Evelyn's pulse pounded as she studied the eyes.

"The eyes are different!"

The first subject's gaze held warmth and clarity. The second's burned with calculated sharpness.

A wild theory took shape in Evelyn's mind.

Harrison voiced it first. "What if the woman we know as Juliette Blackwood...isn't Juliette at all?"

Evelyn's stomach twisted. "Then who the hell is she?"

Harrison's smile didn't reach his eyes. "That's what I intend to find out."

Callum, silent until now, stepped forward. "Harrison, I've traced an address registered to Juliette nearby. We could—"

"Pay her a visit?" Harrison finished, his gaze locking with Evelyn's. "Shall we?"

Their shared glance spoke volumes. This web of lies needed unraveling.

Who was this imposter? And why target Evelyn?

Evelyn squared her shoulders. "Let's go."