Chapter 1314:


    Up on stage during all this, Maia walked toward Kiley. Her delivery stayed measured and every syble came through distinctly as she said, “I believe you’re repaying me this way for revealing the fraudulent Anti earlier.”


    She paused, allowed a small smile, then turned to face the assembled guests with utterposure. “To be honest, Ms. Cooper’s considerate gesture has both surprised me and earned my appreciation. Lately, people have questioned who I really am. I never imagined Ms. Cooper would provide an asion like this to set the record straight.”


    Her short speech brilliantly reframed what clearly looked like an ambush into something rare and valuable.


    True experts never lost their heads the way Rosanna did; they handled things with Maia’s kind of poise instead.


    She met the challenge without breaking her stride and flipped the situation around, using Kiley’s own tactics right back at her.


    Under the bright stage lights, Maia drew a steadying breath. Her voice rang out, clear and resolved, as she continued, “I’m going to use this moment today toy everything out inly for all of you.”


    After she spoke those words, Maia’s gaze drifted leisurely back toward Shiloh. Throughout the entire exchange, not once did he cut her off.


    Shiloh’s silence spoke volumes on its own. One thing stood out as in as day: Shiloh had never betrayed Zoey.


    Beyond any shadow of a doubt, he had shown up at the g to lend her a hand that day, even though Kiley read the situation all wrong. The real show was just getting started.


    Maia pressed her lips together, then offered the warden a soft, knowing smile. Her voice came out calm and reassuring. “Warden Hayes, you’ve caught wind of the prisoner rehabilitation initiative, haven’t you?”


    Shiloh’s face took on a grave look, and he gave a small nod, responding in a low rumble, “The previous warden conceived of that n and put it into action during his time in charge.” He stopped for a moment and raised his voice so everyone in the room could hear him clearly. “The way he saw it, most of the inmates ended up behind bars simply because they made mistakes—poor choices, wrong turns. The exceptions were those with violent tendencies, severe antisocial disorders, or psychological conditions that made them a genuine risk to others. He believed some of these prisoners were actually brilliant minds. If they could turn their lives around and give back to society, that would mean more than just locking them up and putting them to work.”


    Shiloh’s eyesnded on Maia once more, and now his voice turned icy. “Are you iming you were part of that transformation initiative?”


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    He didn’t give Maia a chance to answer. His tone shifted as he let out a mockingugh. “When I firstid eyes on your case, that’s exactly what crossed my mind. But here’s the kicker: Ibed through every single document tied to that program and your name didn’t pop up anywhere.”


    Shiloh’s mood swung wildly yet again.


    Raegan, who had just picked up her phone a second time, froze mid-dial. What on earth was Shiloh ying at? Had he lost his mind and forgotten they were holding his daughter hostage?


    Raegan came close to making the call to order her people to make the girl cry for her father, a sharp reminder of what was at stake.


    But against all odds, the tables turned once more.


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