The Weight Of Leaving by Riven Kade novel Chapter 65

Chapter 2

I laughed.

Of course I could live with it.

An hour later, my father and stepmother showed up at the detention facility.

Through the cold steel bars, I calmly watched the wall–mounted TV broadcasting live footage of the Neptune–X Explorer

emergency rescue.

The anchor’s voice was solemn and theatrical as she listed the missing crew members, painting them as national heroes

who had risked their lives for science.

They were doing an excellent job setting the stage.

I lifted my cuffed hands and gave a helpless shrug in their direction.

“As you can see, I’m a little tied up.”

I’m currently under investigation for allegedly leaking classified technology related to the Neptune–X.”

Theresa’s expression went through a rapid transformation–from shock, to disbelief, and finally to venomous rage.

Her perfectly maintained face twisted in fury as she screeched, “It was you! Rowan, you did this on purpose!”

You’re jealous of your sister! Jealous that she became chief designer of the Neptune–X at such a young age!”

“If you couldn’t have the spotlight, you’d rather see her destroyed! What a poisonous heart you have!”

Every accusation she threw at me was lifted straight from the headlines of my past life.

Clearly, they’d been rehearsing this narrative for a while now.

Richard, on the other hand, remained more composed–still trying to maintain his dignified image as Director, even

while his panic seeped through the cracks.

His gaze bore into me. “What the hell is going on?”

“No idea,” I said lazily, leaning against the wall. A disciplinary task force stormed my lab around midnight. Said someone

filed a formal complaint claiming I sold the Neptune X’s schematics and sonar coding to a foreign agency”

His face darkened instantly.

He knew it was a setup. And still–not single word of concern

Half the technology on that vessel was developed from my research. As if I’d betray my own life’s work

“Goddammit!” he growled, pulling out his phone. “I’ll call everyone I know, I don’t care what it takes, I’m getting you out.

of here today.”

Chapter 2

‘Don’t waste your energy,” I said flatly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“If I walk out of here before the investigation clears me, it’ll only make me look guilty.” I said, holding his gaze. “And we both know–if this charge sticks, my career is finished.”

His hand froze mid–air.

Of course he understood that.

I tilted my head slightly and asked him, quietly but deliberately. “Dad, if only one of us could survive today–me or Aubrey…”

“Who would you choose?”

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Just then, his phone rang again.

He snatched it up like a drowning man grabbing a life raft.

It was a call from the Aurora Research Base.

“Director Carter, we’ve made contact with Commander Hale!”

His eyes lit up. That’s great! What did he say? Does he have a solution?”

“He says he’s abandoned the Arctic mission and is attempting to remotely access the Neptune–X operating system via the

backup satellite channel. But…”

“But what?”

But the vessel’s physical interface has been hard–locked. The remote signal can’t fully penetrate. We need someone to pilot a rescue sub to the trench and initiate a physical override–on site.”

“And the only person capable of performing that override…”

…is Engineer Rowan Carter.”

Chapter 2