Guests turned their heads, their eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on me.

I felt the heat rise in my cheeks, but I stood my ground.

I placed a hand protectively over my stomach, thinking of the secret I carried.

Beside me, Andrew’s hand gently brushed against my arm, his touch cool and steady.

“Let him speak,” Andrew said quietly, his voice low enough for only Koko and me to hear.

“He is digging his own grave.”

“Andrew, the tablet is totally frozen,” Koko said, her breath catching as she tapped the screen.

“I need ten seconds to bypass the venue’s secure network.”

Julian gestured to the massive projection screen behind him.

“I have the internal lab reports right here,” Julian shouted.

“They prove that the chemical alterations were authorized under Elila Smith’s personal login.”

A slide appeared on the screen, showing a forged laboratory log with my name on it in bold black letters.

The crowd murmured louder, and several board members shook their heads in disapproval.

I looked at the screen, my heart beating fast.