I Lost Our Child Chapter 21
The office phones wouldn’t stop ringing.
The new intern kept shooting me cautious, worried looks.
My supervisor called me into his office.
He didn’t yell. He only asked one question.
“Is what that video says true?”
I watched the video again.
Every sentence in it was something I had said.
But the order had been rearranged, and all the surrounding context had been cut.
“It’s not true.”
I lifted my head.
“Give me one day. I’ll deliver the complete materials.”
After I went back to my desk, I called Sarah.
“Do we still have the raw footage?”
“Yes.”
Sarah answered quickly.
“That episode never aired, so all the materials are still in the company archive.”
“The interview outline Ava’s studio sent back is there, too. Those three questions about her first love were sent over after her manager revised the original.”
My hand holding the phone slowly relaxed.
At the time, those had just been ordinary work materials.
Now, they were my most crucial evidence.
“Don’t send me the files privately.”
I said, “Pull them through the company’s official archive request process. Keep the original files preserved.”
Sarah went quiet for a moment, then laughed.
“Got it. You’re still as careful as ever.”
I didn’t rush to defend myself online.
That afternoon, I submitted the video Ava’s studio had posted, the original interview outline, and all the abusive messages to my company.
Then I bought the earliest train ticket back to New York.
Before I left, my mother packed me a bag of fruit.
She didn’t ask much. She only reminded me, “Say what needs to be said.”
“Don’t be afraid.”
I hugged her.
“Mom, I’m not afraid.”
When things went wrong before, I always found myself wondering if Thatcher would stand by me.
Later, I finally understood that my vindication wouldn’t come from someone taking my side.
It would come from evidence.
When the train pulled into the station, Sarah sent another message.
[Ava’s manager is here, too.]
[She’s saying you added those three questions on the spot.]