Elena Sterling stepped forward to the podium, her voice sharp and trembling with hidden fury.
"This woman is an uneducated local guide whom Mr Vance generously married!" Elena claimed. "She has no authority to interfere with a national energy concession! Security, remove her!"
Amani reached into Kaelen’s portfolio, pulled out a document bound in blue legal ribbon, and laid it directly on the Cabinet Secretary’s desk.
"This is a certified copy of a redacted report authorised for release by the medical regulator," Amani stated. "The primary active ingredient described in International Patent Application SG-809 is derived from a regenerative plasma protein isolated from blood taken from me without informed consent."
The Cabinet Secretary’s eyebrows rose as he opened the file and scanned the laboratory notes, Dr Julian Cross’s sworn affidavit, and the regulatory verification stamps.
Amani pointed to the projection screen behind the stage. "And as for Miss Sterling’s public claim that she suffers from a rare marrow disease requiring repeated plasma infusions..."
Kaelen pressed a button on his remote. The screen switched to an audio recording of an internal Sterling BioTech executive meeting from three weeks ago.
Elena’s voice played clearly through the auditorium sound system: *“Vance believes the plasma samples are for my medical treatment. Keep him believing it until the application is filed and the Swiss group signs the licensing agreement.”*
The hall descended into uproar! Reporters stood up on their chairs, shouting questions!
"That recording has been manipulated!" Elena snapped, her composure shattering completely. "My lawyers will destroy every person involved in this stunt!"
Kaelen immediately displayed the verified digital timestamp alongside Dr Cross’s sworn statement authenticating the recording.
Cornered, Elena turned on Hawthorne, her voice harsh and desperate. "You said the authorisation had been handled!"
Amani faced Elena. "Handled—or forged?"
Hawthorne whirled around to Elena, his face pale with shock. "You told me the medical treatment and the patent programme were both necessary! You used me to obtain the samples!"
Elena looked at Hawthorne with cold disdain. "You used your wife because you wanted my investment, Hawthorne. Do not pretend this makes you innocent."
Hawthorne staggered back as if struck by a physical blow.
Whatever pity Amani felt for Hawthorne vanished. "She lied about being ill, Hawthorne. You never lied to yourself about what you were doing to me."
As Hawthorne backed away from the podium, DCI officers entered the auditorium and separated Elena and Hawthorne for questioning. In the confusion, Hawthorne slipped through a service corridor before investigators had grounds to detain him. Elena was served with an immediate travel restriction while prosecutors prepared formal arrest applications.
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