Chapter 12: Live On Air

The television in my living room hummed with the familiar sound of a prime-time news program. Reginald Vanderbilt sat opposite the interviewer, composed and immaculate in a dark suit. He exuded an air of calm confidence, dismissing Brenda Chen’s report as “baseless fabrications” from a “sensationalist publication.”

“My philanthropy, my legacy,” he intoned, a practiced sadness in his voice, “is being attacked by grasping individuals seeking to profit from a minor incident. This whole narrative around a child’s fall is simply a gross exaggeration, a cynical attempt to manipulate public opinion.”

He spoke of his “deep regret” that some might “exploit unfortunate circumstances,” his gaze subtly shifting, implying a criticism of Leo’s prosthetic and my supposed motives. My stomach churned. He was so convincing, so utterly cold.

Across the city, Dr. Eleanor Albright watched the same interview from her own living room. A specific, almost imperceptible tremor in Reggie’s hand caught her eye. A subtle twitch of his thumb, a tell-tale symptom she knew intimately well, triggered when he was under extreme stress. He was lying. And he was continuing to smear a child, right there on live television.

A surge of moral outrage, hot and unbidden, washed over her. This wasn’t just a breach of trust; it was a perversion of truth. Without a second thought, she grabbed her phone. She knew the rival news program’s open line was live during the broadcast.

Her fingers flew across the keypad. The line connected.

“Yes, you’re on air,” a voice said.

“This is Dr. Eleanor Albright,” she stated, her voice clear and resonant, cutting through the chaos of the broadcast. “I am Reginald Vanderbilt’s long-time personal physician.”

The interview desk on Reggie’s channel descended into immediate chaos as the words from the rival program echoed through the newsroom. “Reggie suffers from a severe, hidden neurological condition that causes aggressive outbursts. I personally witnessed his behavior at the Vanderbilt Gala. And I possess irrefutable medical documentation to prove it.”

The world watched in stunned silence as the screen split, showing Reggie’s face contorting in pure disbelief, his practiced composure shattering live on air.