?Chapter 356:


    A few momentster, they watched through a barely cracked door as she strutted into Finnegan’s suite with two bottles of premium wine in her arms, her smile sweet and seductive.


    “Hello, gentlemen! You’ve been selected for tonight’s special offer,” she announced. “These two bottles are on the housepliments of our boss.” The bottles were worth tens of thousands.


    Finnegan’s eyes lit up. “What kind of good karma is this?”


    Then his gaze slid over the woman.


    “You,” he said with a smirk, leaning backzily. “Come here and pour the drinks.”


    The woman in red yed her part perfectly—pouring drinks,ughing at Finnegan’sme jokes, and shing that sugary smile as she topped off his ss again and again.


    Before long, Finnegan waspletely stered. He mmed his ss down and slurred, “Now this is what I call living! First, we win thepetition, and now we get free booze? Ha! The universe is practically begging me to celebrate!” His cronies howled withughter. “Finnegan, you’re untouchable! That Sylvia girl actually thought she could go up against you? What a joke. Everyone knows your uncle was one of the head judges. She never stood a chance.”


    “Shhh!” Finnegan waved his hand clumsily, but his smugness still oozed out. “You idiots wanna ruin everything? My uncle made me swear not to say anything. Keep your mouths shut, yeah?”


    They all nodded like bobbleheads, not noticing the tiny shimmer on the woman’s brooch—a disguised recorder.


    Thirty minutester, she slipped out of the room and found Ste waiting in the hallway. Without a word, the woman unclipped the brooch and handed it to her. Then she turned and left.


    Back in their own private suite, Ste and the others yed the recording. Finnegan’s voice rang out loud and clear. “She thought she couldpete with…”


    That was all they needed.


    They didn’t waste a second. Within minutes, the audio file was sent to the institute’s official email address.


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    Now they just had to wait.


    Walking out of the club, the group stood in the glow of the city lights. Elbert looked at Ste, reading the tight line of worry in her expression. He gently patted her on the shoulder. “Sylvia… the truth will catch up with people like him. Let’s just give it time.”


    Ste gave a small nod. “Yeah.” It was just a matter of time.


    The next morning, an official statement arrived. The authorities were investigating and would handle the matter impartially.


    Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.


    That evening, Ste decided to visit Sharon. Without her help, none of what had happened the previous night would have gone so smoothly.


    After dinner, Ste began walking back to the institute, taking a shortcut through the quieter end of town. But as she crossed a deserted alley and neared the brighter main road, a creeping sensation climbed her spine. Every step she took was mirrored behind her—quick when she sped up, slow when she hesitated.


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