Chapter 5 - The Red Medicine

Marcus took one step toward Sophie. Adrian blocked him.

“Stay away from my daughter.”

“Adrian, listen to yourself.”

“No. You listen. I'm calling the police.”

Marcus smiled without warmth. “And telling them what? A five-year-old says her dead mother talks behind a door?”

Rosa reached into her pocket and produced a photograph. Evelyn sat in a wheelchair in a bare room, pale and thinner, a paper cup in her hand. The date printed in the corner was six days ago.

Adrian gripped the desk to keep standing.

“Where?”

“I don't know exactly,” Rosa said. “A nurse sent it to me. She was scared.”

Marcus lunged for the photo. Adrian shoved him back. They collided with a bookcase, sending framed family pictures crashing to the floor.

“She's sick!” Marcus shouted. “You have no idea what she did!”

Adrian pinned his brother against the wall. “Then tell me.”

Marcus spat blood from a bitten lip. “She found out who owns the clinic. And what we've been doing there.”

Adrian had spent his adult life defending Marcus. When their father called Marcus reckless, Adrian called him brave. When a failed investment wiped out millions, Adrian called it bad luck. Evelyn had never shared that faith. 'Your brother doesn't ask for forgiveness,' she'd once said. 'He asks you to rewrite what happened.' Adrian had accused her of being unfair. He wished now that he could take the words back.

Rosa pushed the photograph toward him. A date had been printed in the corner, only nine days earlier. Evelyn was thinner, her wrists marked, but alive. Adrian touched the edge of the image without touching her face. He was afraid that even paper could hurt her. 'Who took this?' 'A nurse who still has a conscience,' Rosa answered. 'She disappeared the next morning.'

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He ordered Marcus to hand over his phone. Marcus laughed, but the laugh died when Adrian called Naomi and told her to freeze every payment connected to the foundation's medical division. 'You can't do that,' Marcus said. 'I'm the chairman.' 'And I'm the majority owner.' Marcus's face changed. He was no longer pretending to be a concerned brother. He was calculating the distance to the door.

Before Adrian could ask another question, every light in the mansion went out.