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I kept the details out of Wolf Shield’s public history because they belonged to Celeste and the people she helped, but the article on the screen twists every missing detail into another reason for readers to question what I was doing.

Claire sits again and folds her hands over the tablet. “We can issue a direct denial this morning while we prepare a longer response.”

“What does the denial say?”

“That the allegations regarding exploitation of charities are false and that all early Wolf Shield funding came through legitimate, documented investment channels.”

Theo looks toward her. “That’s going to read like every corporate statement ever written.”

“It gives us time to build something stronger.”

“I don’t want to keep buying time.”

The answer surprises everyone enough that the table goes still.

Emma opens a file on her laptop and turns it toward me. “We already have most of what we’d need.”

The timeline we built earlier this month fills the screen. It includes my resignation date, records of shelter work, equipment purchases, early contracts, the introductions that led to commercial projects, and the first investor meeting.

Emma started organizing it because she understood Spencer’s pattern before I did.

I scan the documents before looking at her. “What are you suggesting?”

“I’m asking what you want people to know.”

Her question makes me look back toward the records.

For years, my answer would’ve been as little as possible.

Celeste helped people because they needed help rather than because she wanted anyone knowing what she did. When I entered those same shelters after she died, I had no interest in attention either.

Most days I wanted a repair list and enough work to get me through until I could sleep. Turning those months into publicity still feels wrong.

Using the new shelter initiative as proof of my character would feel worse, but keeping everything hidden no longer protects Celeste’s legacy or the people connected to it.

It protects Spencer’s version of the story.

“I want the record corrected,” I say.

Claire reaches for her tablet and Theo leans forward.

“We release everything we can verify without exposing anyone’s private history. Claire contacts the organizations before reporters get any further ahead of us and tells them exactly what we’re releasing. If directors, staff, or volunteers want to speak about what they personally saw, that’s their decision, but nobody asks survivors to defend me. Nora’s story stays hers unless she decides otherwise.”

Claire begins writing as I continue. “We provide records showing where the equipment came from, what I paid for, and how the early projects developed. The board gets the full timeline, and I’ll speak to them myself.”

Theo watches me carefully. “What about Spencer?”

“We don’t make him the center of the response.”

His eyebrows lift. “He’s the reason we’re here.”

“If we spend the day accusing Spencer, tomorrow’s headline becomes a fight between two wealthy men with publicists. I want the subject to remain what actually happened.”

Theo leans back, clearly unconvinced. “So we let him walk away?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Emma reaches beneath the edge of the table and takes my hand.