Eden Grace
A chill ran through Eden as her eyes landed on Jake.
Suddenly a dangerous tension coiled between them, thick enough to suffocate the air.
"Grandpa…" Jake stepped forward slowly…towards them.
Eden felt her fingers tremble as an uneasy fear crept up her spine. Her body reacted instinctively as he was actually advancing towards her…!
"Dr. Jake. Do you also have an objection?" Cassian's cold voice strikes through the room like a blade, "Don't be shy in expressing it, I'm very approachable you see."
Him and approachable…?
Several committee members stiffened in their chairs. Cassian Blackthorn was anything but approachable!
Freya clenched her fists, anger blazing, "Alpha Cassian, how can you abuse your power like this? Can't you see she has committed a crime?"
Cassian smirked, "Where is the proof she did it?"
"The video. The log, the witnesses." Freya lifted her chin defiantly.
Cassian laughed it out, "Oh, the video you claim of….are you all that stupid to fall for it? Because I'm not."
Freya frowned. "What do you mean?"
Cassian turned slightly. "Bring the tablet."
His secretary stepped forward quickly and handed it to him.
Cassian tapped the screen and projected the footage onto the large display in the room. "I looked at the original surveillance video submitted, myself. And it is very clear the footage was tampered with."
Gasps erupted across the room. Several committee members leaned forward in shock as their eyes fixed on the screen.
"If you look carefully, The frame sequence near the incident loops unnaturally for a few seconds. The same corridor light flicker repeats in the exact pattern twice. That does not happen in real time surveillance recordings. Also the metadata is inconsistent. The timestamp and file creation record do not match the hospital's security server logs."
His gaze turned icy.
"That means the original footage was cut and stitched. Someone inserted and rearranged frames to make it look like Eden was there."
Cassian's eyes shifted to Freya, the glare he gave her was sharp enough to freeze the air.
"Dr. Freya, who did you find this video?"
Freya's heart lurched. Panic flashed across her face for a split second before she forced herself to answer.
"I…a random person from the cctv department gave it to me!" she said quickly. "They said they wanted the truth revealed, I did not see their faces!"
Cassian let out a cold laugh. "So you are telling me," he said mockingly, his gaze sweeping across the committee, "that all of you dismissed a doctor based on a video from a faceless stranger without even conducting a proper investigation?"
Fear slowly spread through the room. No one dared to speak as Cassian's words settled heavily over the committee.
No! No, I can't lose! Freya sneered internally.
"Alpha Cassian, even if the video is not clear, you cannot deny the situations. Eden was the one assigned to the case and she administered the wrong dose!"
Cassian looked at her calmly. "Did you see it yourself?"
"No but—"
"Did any of you see it? What if someone else tampered it too to frame Eden? There are many possibilities."
Freya glared at Cassian, hatred simmering in her chest. Damn you, Cassian Blackthorn! Why are you protecting that wretched woman so desperately?
"If any of you are still unhappy, we can take this matter to the Council. I am sure they will be very interested to review how this hospital expelled a doctor based on such evidence."
Cassian paused, his eyes hard as steel.
"And I am also certain none of you would enjoy dealing with me there too. I'll make sure dealing with the Council will be the least of your concerns." He smiled like a Cheshire cat.
A chilling silence swept through the room as his words settled over them.
He's so scary…!
Alexander Blackthorn sure was ruthless with iron authority, but Cassian…he was deranged with psychotic tendencies.
No one could ever guess what he might do next, and that uncertainty alone was enough to keep even the boldest wolves from provoking him.
The chairman quickly stood up, panic flashing across his face.
"No, no, Alpha Cassian, please do not say that. There is no need to take this matter to the Council. If it reaches them, the hospital's reputation will be ruined. Please have mercy."
"Okay. Fine by me. Then welcome my wife, 'Eden Blackthorn' back to your hospital." Cassian shrugged lightly, his tone suddenly casual as if he had not just shaken the entire room with a threat.
Dr. Heyes slammed his palm on the table, his face flushed with fury. "This is tyranny! How can a royal pack come here and dominate the healing pack like this? This is daylight pack oppression! It should be us, the committee members, who should make the final decisions! Do you royal members have no respect for other packs?"
A murmur of agreement rippled through the room.
"He's right! This is daylight oppression! How can they force things out?"
Dr Heyes continued, "Even if Eden is not to blame, bringing her back is far too risky! Procedure is procedure! Why don't we just vote for the decision like we usually do?"
Freya let out a sly smirk. Good one, Dad! Now the majority of members will surely vote her out! As most of them are on her dad's side!
Cassian's lips curved into a faint, casual smile. "Sure. Then I will cast my vote first. I chose Eden to stay."
Dr. Heyes fumed, "You..how can you vote when you are not a committee member?"
Cassian let out a low, mocking laugh. "Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention. I am a new member of this committee. I acquired some shares from Mr. Callahan, Ms. Rourke, Dr. Meyers. Please everyone, welcome me with an open heart."
Dr. Heyes froze for a second and glared at the members. These traitors!
One by one they looked away, muttering uneasily. "What, is it a crime to sell some shares? Hmph."
Cassian's hands came together in a slow, deliberate clap, the sound echoing like a warning through the tense room.
"Now, let the vote begin. Let me witness it, who dares to go against my wife…go on, I want to remember their faces."
The committee members stiffened, a cold dread crawling up their spines as his eyes swept over them like a predator sizing up its prey.
"I vote Eden in!"
"I too vote Eden in!"
"Me too!"
One by one, every member cast their vote in fear. Eden was reinstated.
Freya's face twisted ugly. No, no, no! How did it end like this! When did Eden become so important! Wasn't she a nobody!? How…how did she rise so high and catch Blackthorn's eyes!
Freya's fists clenched and she stormed off hurriedly. I need to complain to her before this situation gets completely out of hand! Only she cam tame them!
On the other side, Eden exhaled deeply, a thrill of victory running through her. She turned to Cassian, a wide grin spreading across her face and gave him a playful thumbs up.
Cassian looked proud.
Grandpa Blackthorn grunted, shaking his head as he turned to leave. "This brat certainly knows how to defend his wife. Hmph, I was worried he'd ruin everything, since its his specialty."
He turned sharply to Eden, "Now don't waste this opportunity. I delivered my promise, make sure you do not fail."
Eden's eyes teared up and she bowed repeatedly, "Thank you! Thank you Grandpa!"
He straightened, his tone still firm and commanding. "Now let's go. This has been tiring. We'll prepare something to celebrate at home. You can start work again tomorrow."
He said and walked ahead. Grandpa Blackthorn was definitely a tsundere!
At home Grandma and the workers gathered around, offering their congratulations and warm smiles to Eden.
The entire mansion was in celebration mode when suddenly, a sharp, piercing scream cut through the air.
"Eden Grace! Come out you witch!"
What? Who was there? Everyone looked forward. It was Clarisse, Jake's mother!
Eden's face went ashen as her eyes landed on them because everyone were present. Clarisse, Emily, Freya, and even Jake!!!