Augustin’s POV
Fox described how he eagerly asked how he could help, only to be told that as a future heir, he was already helping. Frustrated at being treated in a ca Fox called his mother, demanding his own place as allowed by Verdantia law for sixteen year–olds. His father oblected, but his mother came to Verdantsa met Faye, and helped arrange for Fox to live with her.
“Nothing happened between Faye and me except kissing and watching TV, Fox clarified, his cheeks flushing. We respected each other. Then the organization started giving me small tasks, like following Yosef to receive wire transfers.”
Eventually, Yosef suggested Fox obtain a fake identity for “safety,” which his father strongly opposed. But as a minor, the fake identity required parental consent and a family seal.
“My mom secretly agreed, Fox said. “That’s
The story took a darker turn as Fox described friends, Fox offered to help.
got
my fake identity as Fox Larson.”
Yosef announced that I was targeting their organization for destruction. Concerned for Faye and his new
“Yosef came up with a plan,” Fox said, his voice trembling again. “He said my father should submit a petition demanding that you and your officials be removed from power, with the Council taking charge. That way, you couldn’t attack them.”
2
Fox’s expression crumpled. “But my father had no reason to do that. So Faye suggested faking my kidnapping, threatening to kill me and harm my family if my father didn’t comply.”
He wiped at his tears. “I didn’t feel good about it, but I didn’t want to let Faye down. We made a video of me in captivity, begging my father to do what the kidnappers wanted. We sent it to him.”
Fox described how his father responded, promising to comply but requesting daily proof that Fox was alive. The kidnappers agreed.
The final betrayal came when Faye claimed Yosef was sick and asked Fox to receive a wire transfer and move it to a specific account.
‘I did it to please her,” Fox whispered. “I used my fake identity because Yosef had hinted I needed it for this purpose. The bank clerk mentioned they usually used a code to receive transfers from clients, but I didn’t think much of it.”
After transferring the money to an anonymous account Faye provided, Fox returned home to find she had abandoned their apartment.
“I cried for hours,” he said, his voice breaking completely. “I realized I’d been used. I understood what had happened.”
As Fox finished his story, his shoulders slumped in complete defeat. The room fell silent except for his quiet sobbing.
I studied Fox as his sobbing diminished to quiet sniffles. One detail from his story kept nagging at me, throughout his entire confession, he had only referred to the organization’s leader by a single name.
If this Yosef character hadn’t shared his full name, he likely never intended to keep Fox around long–term. The boy was just another pawn, easily sacrificed.
‘Did you ever meet any of Faye’s family or friends?”
Fox shook his head again, his eyes downcast. “When I went back to our apartment after that bank transfer, everything was gone. Her clothes, photos, everything that belonged to her had vanished. His voice cracked. “It was like she never existed. I checked my email later, and all our messages were deleted
too.”
“What about your SoulFriend account?” Adryx asked from behind me.
“Logged out,” Fox said, his shoulders slumping further. “And I couldn’t log back in. The password was changed. All my contacts were gone. He swallowed hard. “A few days later, I found a note slipped under my door that said ‘You’ve been compromised. They’re watching you. That’s when
run.”
ked and tried to
“And then you were arrested,” I finished for him.
Fox nodded miserably. “I didn’t know what else to do.”
172
Chapter 240
I leaned back in my chair, processing what he’d told us. Despite the boy’s obvious dishonesty in the past, I believed him now. His bear genuine to be fabricated. And the information was valuable, we now knew the organization had a leader named Yosef, and we had confirmation ef suspicion that someone had been forging my signature on documents.
I thought of Eliza, who had.unlimited access to my office. Had she been using my seal to create false orders and sanctions? It would explain, lo
“Tell me about your mother’s role in all this,” I said, watching Fox’s reaction carefully.
His entire body tensed, and his scent shifted immediately to fear and protectiveness. His lips pressed into a thin line as he stared fixedly at the table.
1 leaned forward. “If she’s involved in this organization, she doesn’t deserve your protection, Fox. She put you in danger and left you to take the fall alone
Fox’s breathing quickened, but he remained silent.
‘You’re the one sitting here in chains,” I continued, my voice hardening. “Not her. She used you like a chess piece that could be sacrificed.”
A muscle in Fox’s jaw twitched, but he kept his eyes down. The room grew heavy with tension as Bryloch shifted his weight, and Adryx exchanged a glance with me.
Adryx stepped forward, his voice cold and precise. “If you don’t cooperate fully, we’ll have no choice but to bring this before the Council of Elders. Your father will lose his position and be exiled for raising a traitor. Your entire family will be disgraced.”
“My father had nothing to do with this!” Fox cried, his voice breaking. “He
know anything!”
“Then who did?” I demanded, slamming my palm on the table. “Your mother?”
Fox’s face went completely pale. After several seconds of internal struggle, he nodded once, then whispered, “Yes. She’s part of the organization.”
“How long has she been involved?” I asked, feeling some of the tension leave my shoulders. Finally, we were getting somewhere.
I don’t know exactly,” Fox admitted. “But she gave them my email address. That’s how
they recruited
me.”
“Why didn’t she just ask you directly?” Bryloch asked.
Fox’s eyes darted to him, then back to me. “She said… she said it was better this way. In case things went wrong, I couldn’t tell my father she’d asked me to join.”
Smart, I thought grimly. She had created plausible deniability for herself. If Fox had been caught, she could claim ignorance.
“Who else is in this organization?” I asked. “Names, Fox. I need names.“.
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