“Yes,” Daniel said, his tone sharpening. “I told you this months ago. He represents the medical syndicate.”

“They want the new wellness pavilion named after him.”

“It’s a business decision, Ethan. A massive one.”

“If this cleaner starts spreading rumors about what happened the night Claire died, the board will panic.”

“They will think we are trying to dig up old dirt.”

“They will pull the funding.”

“We will be ruined.”

I watched Ethan’s face.

The grief was still there, but something else was rising beneath it.

It was a cold, quiet anger.

He gripped the phone tighter, his knuckles turning white.

“She isn’t spreading rumors, Daniel,” Ethan said.

“She was there.”

“She saw the report.”

There was a sudden silence on the other end of the line.

I could hear the faint sound of a car horn through Daniel’s phone.

“Ethan,” Daniel said, his voice dropping an octave. “Don’t do this.”

“Don’t let a grieving mind make a mistake that costs us everything.”

“She is a disgruntled former employee.”

“She was fired for a reason.”

“She’s lying to you to get money.”