Project Veil
(Ophelia's POV)
The apartment was silent.
Only the soft hum of her laptop filled the room.
Ophelia stared at the folder on her screen.
PROJECT VEIL
Her hand hovered over the touchpad.
She hesitated.
For months she had searched for answers.
Now they were only a click away.
She took a deep breath.
Then opened the folder.
There were only three files.
File One – Foundation Projects
File Two – Confidential
File Three – If You're Too Late
Her pulse quickened.
She opened the first file.
Hundreds of documents appeared.
At first glance, they looked ordinary.
Annual reports.
Budgets.
Charity programs.
Scholarship records.
But as she examined them more closely, something felt wrong.
Some figures had been altered.
Entire pages had been replaced.
Donation amounts didn't match bank transfers.
Names appeared twice under different spellings.
Millions of naira had moved through the Ashford Foundation without a clear explanation.
Someone had been using the charity to hide something.
But what?
And why?
She clicked File Two.
It contained scanned emails.
Most of the names had been erased.
One message caught her attention.
No one must know about Project Veil.
If the volunteer keeps asking questions, remove her from the program immediately.
Volunteer.
April.
Ophelia's heart pounded.
Another email appeared.
She's already copied some of the files.
Find them before it's too late.
Ophelia closed her eyes.
April hadn't stumbled onto the truth.
She had been searching for it.
With trembling fingers, Ophelia opened the third file.
Its title made her chest tighten.
IF YOU'RE TOO LATE
The screen remained blank for a few seconds.
Then a video began to play.
April appeared.
She looked tired.
Frightened.
She kept glancing over her shoulder before looking directly into the camera.
"If you're watching this..."
She swallowed.
"...then I wasn't paranoid."
"I was right."
She forced a weak smile.
"I don't know who's watching anymore."
"I don't know who I can trust."
"But I know someone inside the Foundation is hiding something."
"I'm trying to find proof."
"If anything happens to me..."
She paused.
"...don't let them bury the truth with me."
The video suddenly cut to black.
Ophelia's eyes filled with tears.
She reached toward the screen.
"April..."
But the recording was over.
There was nothing else.
She leaned back in her chair, overwhelmed.
April had been terrified.
Yet she had continued anyway.
Just like Ophelia was doing now.
Her phone buzzed.
It was Ethan.
She stared at his name before answering.
"Hello."
His voice was warm.
"I hope I'm not interrupting."
"No."
"I was just finishing some work."
"I wanted to hear your voice."
A small smile found its way to her lips.
"I'm glad you called."
There was a brief silence.
Then Ethan spoke.
"Do you remember the art gallery where we first really talked?"
"Of course."
"They're hosting another exhibition tomorrow evening."
"I was wondering..."
His voice softened.
"...would you come with me?"
She looked at April's frozen image on the laptop screen.
Her mission.
Her heart.
Two paths pulling in opposite directions.
"I'd love to," she replied quietly.
The next evening, the gallery buzzed with conversation.
Artists, collectors, journalists, and guests wandered among paintings and sculptures.
The atmosphere was elegant but relaxed.
As they walked together, Ethan noticed Ophelia's attention lingering on a sculpture of two figures carved from a single block of marble.
One figure faced forward.
The other looked back.
"What do you think it means?" he asked.
She smiled thoughtfully.
"I think it's about choice."
"One person keeps walking toward the future."
"The other can't stop looking at the past."
"And which one are you?" he asked gently.
Her smile faded.
"I honestly don't know."
He looked at her for a long moment.
"I think you're stronger than you believe."
His words settled deep within her.
No one had ever looked at her and seen strength.
Only loss.
Only grief.
As they continued through the exhibition, Ethan stopped walking.
She turned to face him.
"What is it?"
He took a slow breath.
"I've been trying to find the right moment."
"The right words."
"And I don't think either of those things really exist."
Her heartbeat quickened.
He smiled nervously.
"You've changed my life, Ophelia."
"I look forward to every call."
"Every conversation."
"Every excuse to see you."
"I don't know what tomorrow looks like."
"But I know I'd like you to be part of it."
He stepped a little closer.
"Ophelia..."
"I care about you."
"More than I've ever cared about anyone."
He reached into his jacket pocket.
Not for a ring.
Just for a small pressed white lily sealed inside a bookmark.
"I remembered you once said flowers deserve to be kept, not forgotten."
He held it out to her.
"I'd like us to stop wondering what this is."
He met her eyes.
"Will you be my girlfriend?"
The world seemed to fall silent.
Ophelia stared at him.
At the flower.
At the kindness in his eyes.
Then April's voice echoed in her memory.
"Don't let them bury the truth with me."
Her heart broke quietly.
Because for the first time...
She wanted to say yes.
Not for the mission.
Not to get closer to the Ashford family.
But because Ethan Ashford had become the one place where she felt safe.
A tear escaped before she smiled.
"Yes, Ethan."
"I will."
Relief flooded his face.
He laughed softly, almost in disbelief.
"Really?"
She nodded.
"Really."
He gently took her hand.
No grand gestures.
No dramatic kiss.
Just two hands finding each other.
Neither of them noticed the photographer standing on the balcony above the gallery.
The camera flashed once.
Then again.
The lens captured their joined hands.
A message was immediately sent with the photograph.
Target has accepted the relationship.
A reply came seconds later.
Good. Phase Two begins now.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter