Novel

Chapter 3: The Clock Narrows

Minutes before the hearing closes, Mina forces her way past security with Noor’s authenticated deletion notice naming V. Rath, proving the ledger purge was scheduled and controlled. In the corridor, Adrian admits the offline device path was inside-authorized but withholds what he is protecting, and his silence sharpens Mina’s suspicion. Mina enters the boardroom with the ledger chain, deletion notice, and her own name in the custody line, exposing that the Haldor Freight Recovery Ledger was set to be erased before the session. Noor confirms the trace at personal risk, while Victor tries to recast the evidence as unauthorized. The room turns on Mina in real time: family members accuse her of humiliation and self-serving lies, Victor moves to suspend the hearing, Noor’s access is flagged, and Mina wins the proof but loses ground with the people who matter most.