Chapter 7 - SHADOWS OF THE PAST
Three months later.
The summer sun beamed down over the lush green lawns of the Cole estate overlooking the Boston harbor. The dark, gloomy tension that had once hung over the stone mansion had completely evaporated, replaced by the sounds of life and activity.
In the newly renovated guest house on the east wing of the property, June Kwan was settling into her role as the estate director. She wore a sharp, professional suit, managing a team of groundskeepers and staff with quiet confidence. No longer the terrified, overworked cleaning woman hiding in the shadows, June had transformed into a respected manager within Nathan’s inner circle.
Meanwhile, in the grand main house, the former sterile silence of Nathan's study was gone. A second, smaller wooden desk had been added to the corner of the room near the window—Iris’s desk.
Iris, now eight years old, was sitting at her desk with a tablet computer, reviewing complex mathematical logic puzzles that a private tutor had assigned her. Her exceptional cognitive abilities and sharp memory had been formally evaluated by educational specialists, who confirmed that she possessed an extraordinary prodigal intellect.
Nathan was sitting at his primary desk, signing a series of corporate foundation documents. He looked up from his papers and watched the little girl work.
"How are the logic patterns coming along, Iris?" Nathan asked.
"Easy," Iris said without looking up. "The third pattern repeats every seven sequence steps because it uses a prime number base. It's too predictable."
Nathan let out a soft laugh. "I'll tell your tutor to step up the difficulty."
Just then, Marcus Vance stepped into the study, carrying a thick leather folder. His expression was serious.
"Nathan," Marcus said. "The federal trial for Raymond Farrell and Viktor Vane's upper syndicate lieutenants begins next week. The prosecutor wants to brief us on the final testimony preparations."
Nathan’s smile faded slightly. He stood up and walked over to Marcus. "Is there a problem?"
"Not with the prosecution," Marcus said, lowering his voice so Iris wouldn't hear. "The case against Raymond is bulletproof, thanks to the drive and the financial logs. But Vane's legal team is attempting a desperate counter-strategy. They are attempting to subpoena Iris as a witness."
Nathan’s eyes flared with sudden, dangerous anger. "They want to put an eight-year-old child on the stand in a federal courtroom surrounded by international mobsters?"
"They want to claim her testimony was manipulated by you," Marcus explained. "They want to argue that a child couldn't possibly have understood the legal files or identified Raymond's signet ring without coaching, attempting to invalidate the initial cause for your security sweep."
Nathan's jaw tightened. "Over my dead body. She is not stepping foot inside that courtroom to be cross-examined by Vane's high-priced mercenaries."
"I agree," Marcus said. "But the judge has requested an in-camera deposition—a private meeting in the judge's chambers with only the attorneys, the judge, and a child psychologist present. If Iris can demonstrate her memory and understanding independently, the judge will dismiss their motion to disqualify her evidence permanently."
Nathan looked over at Iris, who had stopped typing on her tablet and was watching them with her bright, perceptive eyes.
"She doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to do," Nathan said firmly.
"I want to do it," Iris said, her voice clear and decisive.
Nathan walked over to her desk and sat on the edge. "Iris, you don't have to be involved in this anymore. You've already done more than enough."
"Mr. Cole," Iris said, looking straight into his eyes. "The bad man lied about you. He tried to take what belonged to your family, and he tried to hurt my mom. I'm not scared of his lawyers."
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Nathan looked at her for a long moment, deeply moved by her courage. He reached out and gently patted her head. "Alright. But I will be sitting right outside that room. The second you feel uncomfortable, we stop."
"Deal," she said, going back to her tablet.
