CHAPTER SEVENTY SIX - THE MOMENT OF TRUTH

The board members looked at her with a mix of surprise and annoyance. Max's expression was unreadable. "Ms. Hart," one of the older members said sternly, "this is highly inappropriate. We're in the middle of discussing your case." Ava stood her ground. "I know, and what I have to say is directly related to that. Please, just give me five minutes." She looked pleadingly at Max, silently begging for his support. After a moment that felt like an eternity, Max nodded. "Let's hear what she has to say," he said, his voice carrying a note of authority that silenced any objections. Ava took a deep breath and launched into her presentation. She laid out all the evidence she had gathered, explaining the complex web of deceit that had been woven around her. She showed them the connection to Sophia Rivers and Marco Vernetti, and explained how they had manipulated the company's systems to frame her. As she spoke, she could see the board members' expressions changing from skepticism to shock a