All Chapters of A Hunter Made from Shadows: Chapter 21
- Chapter 22
22 chapters
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The ballroom of one of Los Angeles’ most exclusive luxury hotels glittered like a jewel box.Crystal chandeliers hung overhead like miniature galaxies, scattering light across the polished marble floor and the carefully composed faces of the city’s elite, faces painted with polite smiles and social niceties.Tonight was the annual “Heart of White” Charity Gala.And the event had reached its emotional peak.Liam White, the city’s most celebrated philanthropist, stood at the center of a red velvet stage, microphone in hand.His voice was rich, warm, and perfectly controlled as he recounted one heartbreaking poverty-relief story after another.Every pause was deliberate. Every emotional beat calculated.The audience listened, deeply moved. Some dabbed at the corners of their eyes.Applause swelled again and again. No one in the room knew that the “rescued children” he spoke of were nothing more than statistics, fabricated symbols used to launder vast sums of money.Hidden in plain sight,
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Ashley’s breathing hitched slightly as she asked, “What’s your plan?”Michael’s lips curled into a cold, crooked smile. “It’s simple,” he said. “He prepared a fake… so I’ll prepare another one.”Ashley frowned. “Another fake?”“A fake of a fake,” Michael replied calmly. “The one he made is meant to expose the truth. Mine has only one purpose.blur the line between what’s real and what isn’t.”He stepped closer, voice lowering.“I’ll use a perfect replica to replace the one he planted ahead of time. When he proudly plays his ‘reveal’ video and the experts come up to authenticate the painting… they’ll find that the evidence.” he paused, the smile deepening, "...is genuine.”Ashley’s eyes widened.His carefully staged trial would collapse into a farce. He would accuse Ivan of forgery, only for the physical evidence to prove otherwise. In an instant, he’d go from a righteous judge to a sensationalist slanderer in front of everyone.The plan was bold. Reckless. Borderline illegal.Ashley’s