Chapter 8: The Prescription That Changed Everything
"That's a lie.""
Evelyn's voice was barely audible.
Vanessa stood slowly.
"Is it?""
"You don't know what you're talking about.""
"I have the records.""
Marcus looked at her sharply.
"What records?""
Vanessa reached into her handbag.
She pulled out a small flash drive.
"Everything.""
Daniel immediately stepped forward.
"Give that to me.""
Vanessa hesitated.
"Not until I know I'm protected.""
"You have just admitted to financial fraud and threatened someone with a firearm," Daniel replied.
"You need to understand that protection is not something I can promise.""
She looked at me.
"Then perhaps Nia can.""
I stared at her.
"Why would I protect you?""
"Because I'm the only person who knows what really happened to your father.""
Marcus laughed.
"Vanessa, stop pretending you're important.""
She turned toward him.
"You told me to get rid of the records.""
"Because they were company documents.""
"You told me to destroy the pharmacy logs.""
Marcus's expression changed.
Evelyn slowly sat down.
I looked at her.
"Is it true?""
She shook her head.
"I never changed his medication.""
"Then why does Vanessa have the records?""
"Because she worked in the office. She had access to everything.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"Not those records. I obtained them from the private medical service your father used.""
Daniel extended his hand.
"Give me the drive.""
This time, Vanessa handed it over.
He slipped it into his briefcase.
Marcus immediately reached for it.
Daniel stepped back.
"Don't.""
"Those files are confidential.""
"Then you should have protected them.""
I looked at Marcus.
"Did you know my father was being given the wrong medication?""
He stared at me.
"No.""
"Did you know Evelyn was involved?""
"No.""
Vanessa laughed.
"You're unbelievable.""
Marcus turned toward her.
"Shut your mouth.""
She pointed at him.
"You told me that if anything happened to your father-in-law, the inheritance would become easier to access. You said the trust would be reviewed, and you would have a chance to change the beneficiaries.""
I felt my stomach twist.
"Why?""
Marcus's expression hardened.
"Because your father was blocking a legitimate restructuring.""
"Fourteen million dollars was legitimate?""
"That money was used to keep the company afloat.""
"Then why was it transferred to a company owned by Vanessa?""
He didn't answer.
Daniel opened the front door.
Two security officers from the building stood outside.
He had called them while Vanessa was holding the gun.
"Nobody leaves until the police arrive," he said.
Marcus looked at me.
"You've gone too far.""
I stared at him.
"You brought a loaded gun into my life, Marcus. I think we passed too far a long time ago.""
He stepped closer.
"You have no idea what your father did.""
"Then tell me.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Not here.""
"Where?""
He leaned toward me.
"Ask Evelyn why she was at the hospital the night your father died.""
I turned.
Evelyn's face was completely white.
"What hospital?""
She didn't answer.
Marcus looked almost pleased.
"She told everyone she went home that night. She didn't.""
Evelyn stood abruptly.
"That's enough.""
"Tell her.""
"Marcus!""
"Tell your daughter-in-law where you were.""
I looked between them.
"What happened at the hospital?""
Evelyn's lips trembled.
"I was there because your father asked me to come.""
"When?""
"The evening he died.""
"Why?""
She lowered her eyes.
"He wanted to speak to me privately.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"What did he say?""
Evelyn sat down again.
"He told me he knew about the transfers. He said he had discovered the truth about Charlotte.""
I froze.
"Charlotte?""
Evelyn nodded.
"He knew Marcus was trying to find her. He knew about the trust.""
Daniel opened the prescription envelope.
He examined the first page, then the second.
His expression became increasingly serious.
"Mrs. Carter, these are pharmacy dispensing records.""
Evelyn looked at him.
"Yes.""
"There's a medication listed here that your father was not prescribed by his cardiologist.""
She covered her mouth.
Daniel turned another page.
"And the authorization was issued under your name.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"Why?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"I didn't authorize it.""
Daniel looked at her.
"Your signature is here.""
"Someone copied it.""
Marcus suddenly spoke.
"That's enough. We're leaving.""
One of the security officers stepped forward.
"Sir, please remain where you are.""
Marcus ignored him.
He looked at me.
"Nia, listen to me. Your father was a sick man. His death had nothing to do with the company.""
"Then why did you hide the records?""
"Because people were asking questions.""
"Who?""
He looked away.
I took a step toward him.
"Who, Marcus?""
He finally looked at me.
"Your mother.""
The words hit like a slap.
"My mother was dead.""
"Not your mother. Mine.""
I frowned.
"Patricia?""
Marcus nodded.
"She didn't die twenty-three years ago.""
The room became completely silent.
Evelyn slowly lifted her head.
I looked at her.
"What?""
Marcus gave a bitter smile.
"Patricia was alive when I married you.""
"Where is she now?""
He looked at Vanessa.
Vanessa began crying again.
Then Marcus said the words that made everything fall into place.
"She's the woman who sent you the photograph.""
I felt the room tilt.
My husband's biological mother was alive.
She had been watching us.
And she knew exactly what happened to my father.
Daniel closed his briefcase.
"Marcus, I think you should stop talking.""
But Marcus wasn't finished.
He looked directly at me.
"Your father didn't just leave Charlotte an inheritance. He left her the controlling rights to a second company. A company worth considerably more than Carter Holdings.""
I stared at him.
"Why would my father do that?""
"Because Charlotte wasn't the only person he wanted to protect.""
He paused.
"Your father knew that if anything happened to him, the person who controlled that second company would control the evidence.""
"Evidence of what?""
Marcus looked toward Evelyn.
"Ask her.""
Evelyn began shaking her head.
"No.""
"Tell her what happened to Patricia.""
Evelyn covered her face.
Marcus leaned closer to me.
"Patricia was the first woman your father ever loved. He had an affair with her before he married Helen.""
I felt sick.
"You're saying my father knew Patricia?""
"He knew her very well.""
"Then why did she disappear?""
Marcus's smile vanished.
"Because your father helped her disappear.""
I stared at him.
"And your mother?""
"She knows where Patricia is.""
Evelyn suddenly stood.
"Don't believe him.""
Marcus laughed.
"Of course. You'd rather let him believe you're innocent.""
Daniel moved between them.
"Enough.""
But I couldn't stop.
"Where is Patricia?""
Marcus looked at me.
"She's closer than you think.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
*Unknown:* Nia, please don't listen to Marcus.
A second message followed.
*Unknown:* I'm the woman in the photograph.
Then another.
*Unknown:* I'm outside Evelyn's house.
I turned toward the window.
A black sedan was parked across the street.
The driver's door opened.
A woman stepped out.
She had dark hair, a narrow face, and a small scar near her left eyebrow.
The same woman from the photograph.
Patricia Reed.
She looked directly at me through the glass.
Then she raised her hand.
In it was a photograph of my father.
May you like
And beneath the photograph was a handwritten note.
*HE DIDN'T DIE BECAUSE OF THE MEDICATION.*
