CHAPTER 3 — The Recording That Exposed Him
The screen showed a dark battlefield.
Rain poured over broken ground. Smoke covered the mountains. Soldiers shouted through static.
Then a younger General Hayes appeared on the video.
Beside him stood Captain Daniel Carter.
Emma’s father.
Daniel was wounded, bleeding from his shoulder, but still standing between his men and danger.
Then his voice came through the recording.
"General, the coordinates are wrong. If we follow your order, our own men die."
Young Hayes stepped closer.
"Follow the order, Captain."
Daniel shook his head.
"No. Someone sold this operation. This isn’t a rescue mission. It’s a trap."
The room erupted in whispers.
Emma stood still, eyes locked on the screen.
Then the recording showed the moment that changed everything.
Hayes pulled his weapon.
Not at the enemy.
At Daniel Carter.
The entire Honors Hall gasped.
The video cut to black.
For several seconds, no one breathed.
Then Emma turned toward Hayes.
"My father didn’t die a hero because of you."
May you like
Her voice cracked for the first time.
"He died trying to stop you."
