The Governor 's secret

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s internally counting every second. Watching shadows. She now understands the distinction between instinct and paranoia, and her instincts are screaming. She then spots him. Alone and too still at the bar. He holds himself too precisely. His stance remains rigid even when dressed in civilian attire. He does not consume alcohol, flirt, or flinch. merely watches. Her. Izzy feels the chill of recognition as their eyes collide for a split second. Not memory, but comprehension. He slowly nods. Not intimidating. Not pleasant. Just... to confirm. He is a part of the game she'

c of the speeches. Victor was already a two-term governor with national ambitions at the age of forty-four. He was raised in a military household in rural Virginia from a young age, learning how to show strength and conceal doubt. He was the youngest son of a strict colonel and a Bible-reading mother who mastered posture, language, and expression control. He used politics as an escape from the shadows of his small town, which he never dared confront, not just as a career. The fact that Victor had kept the information a secret for nearly a decade was something that the general public, his chief of staff, his wife, and even his campaign manager were unaware of. Selena Ward was her name. When they first met, she was working as a journalist on an investigation into a local corruption scandal. Unflinchingly sharp and witty, she challenged his defenses. After one too many drinks one night, they got caught up in something neither of them could explain. What started out as a single mistake turned into a pattern of stolen hours, unidentified hotel rooms, and whispered phone calls. Victor made multiple attempts to end it. She would disappear for months each time, only to reap

No leaks No blunders. The time passed. No updates. No messages Despite Victor's composed demeanor, the press went about their business as usual. Victor felt empty that night as he watched cameras capture their flawless smiles as he stood next to his wife at a charity event. Like the Capitol's beautiful, polished marble statues, which lack any life at all. A flash drive was delivered to the Governor's residence in an unmarked envelope three days later. Victor closed the door to his study and connected his laptop to it. Opened was a grainy video of Selena tied to a chair in what appeared to be a storage room, bruised but still alive. She looked straight at the camera. She groaned and said, "I was right." "Delacroix. Offshore accounts, money laundering, and deals with weapons are all part of a larger scheme. Someone is afraid. Someone with power. She was hesitant. After that, I said, "