\u201cGavin, do not entertain this nonsense,\u201d Priscilla whispered, trying to pull him back. \u201cThe child is just playing a silly game.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, Taylor was completely serious.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sad lady needs you,\u201d Taylor insisted, pulling his hand.<\/p>\n
Gavin\u2019s friendly expression instantly shifted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich lady are you talking about?\u201d he asked gently.<\/p>\n
Taylor pointed her little finger straight down the corridor.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mommy.\u201d<\/p>\n
An abrupt silence washed over the room, and Priscilla slammed her champagne glass onto a nearby marble table with far too much force.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mother is not even here!\u201d Priscilla snapped, her voice trembling slightly.<\/p>\n
Just then, Owen stepped out from the hallway, his face pale as he held a thick black binder under his arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is in the study, Gavin,\u201d Owen announced firmly. \u201cAnd this time, you really need to listen to what she has to say.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gavin stood motionless for a moment, staring at Owen as if his trusted assistant had suddenly transformed into a stranger.<\/p>\n
The entire ballroom fell completely quiet, leaving thirty high-profile guests, politicians, and business partners standing in an uncomfortable silence as they realized they were witnessing a private disaster unravel.<\/p>\n
Priscilla was the first to break the tension, stepping forward with a forced, elegant smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is completely inappropriate,\u201d Priscilla declared loudly. \u201cGavin, your mother is creating an embarrassing scene on our special night, and are you honestly going to fall for this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gavin turned his gaze toward her, remembering how that smooth voice had guided his decisions for months, convincing him to cut ties with his family and distrust his long-time staff.<\/p>\n
Yet little Taylor was still holding onto his hand, looking up at him with remarkable clarity.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease come on,\u201d Taylor urged gently. \u201cShe stopped crying, but she is still very sad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Something broke inside Gavin\u2019s guarded demeanor.<\/p>\n
He completely ignored Priscilla and her father, who was beginning to mutter quiet threats about reputation and political influence, and simply allowed the little girl to lead him down the hallway.<\/p>\n
Nora felt an overwhelming sense of panic, feeling the intense glare of every wealthy guest burning into her back as she followed them. She worried that she would lose her job and her home by morning, but she could not leave her daughter alone in the middle of the storm.<\/p>\n
When they entered the private office, Evelyn was standing beside the desk, clutching her hands to hide their violent shaking.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom,\u201d Gavin said quietly, carrying six months of guilt and regret in that single word.<\/p>\n
Evelyn did not rush to hug him, nor did she shed any more tears, but simply handed him the thick yellow envelope.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease read this before you judge me again,\u201d she said softly.<\/p>\n
Gavin opened the folder and began scanning the documents, initial hesitation turning into sharp focus as he turned page after page. Owen stepped forward, placing his black binder on the desk beside him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have full digital backups, Gavin,\u201d Owen explained carefully. \u201cThese are outgoing transfers to a shell consulting firm in Oregon and private strategy leaks sent directly to the executive board of Northwest Developments before every major bidding cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gavin\u2019s jaw clenched tightly, his fingers crushing the corners of the paper he held.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long has this been going on?\u201d Gavin asked, his voice chillingly calm.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince before you two even met at the charity gala,\u201d Owen replied quietly.<\/p>\n
Evelyn took a deep breath before speaking up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started noticing strange discrepancies in our quarterly reports, but when I tried to warn you, she convinced you I was just being an overbearing mother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI banned you from my life,\u201d Gavin admitted softly, looking at his mother with deep shame.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, you did,\u201d Evelyn acknowledged gently.<\/p>\n
Taylor climbed onto the leather armchair, watching the adults with total confusion as to why they took so long to fix simple problems.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you still sad now?\u201d Taylor asked Evelyn directly.<\/p>\n
Evelyn looked at the little girl, a small, genuine smile finally breaking through her distress.<\/p>\n
\u201cA little less now, my sweet child,\u201d Evelyn answered softly.<\/p>\n
Gavin turned his attention to Nora, who was standing nervously near the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you see these documents too?\u201d Gavin asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did not mean to look at anything, sir,\u201d Nora answered honestly. \u201cYour mother opened the envelope, and I only stayed because my daughter refused to leave the room.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should have taken her back to the kitchen,\u201d Gavin noted, his eyes narrowing slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know,\u201d Nora replied, holding her head high. \u201cBut sometimes children understand that someone needs help long before adults do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before Gavin could respond, the office door flew open without a knock, and Priscilla marched inside with her face flushed red, closely followed by her father.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis farce ends right now,\u201d Priscilla demanded loudly. \u201cI will not allow a maid, a noisy toddler, and a bitter old woman to ruin my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nora immediately stepped forward to protect her child, while Evelyn held her ground firmly.<\/p>\n
Gavin set the papers onto the desk and looked directly at his fianc\u00e9e.<\/p>\n
\u201cPriscilla, how do you explain these bank records?\u201d Gavin asked coldly.<\/p>\n
Priscilla glanced at the papers for a split second before sneering.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are obvious fakes created to frame me,\u201d she replied hastily.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the original server logs and hotel meeting recordings from downtown,\u201d Owen interjected calmly.<\/p>\n