Chapter 3
The next morning, I was back in the wheelchair before the sun came up.
Vanessa swept into my room at nine sharp, wearing a tailored blue suit, her smile bright and fake as plastic. She carried a thick stack of papers in her arms, and her mother trailed behind her, carrying a designer handbag that cost more than most people’s cars.
“Good morning, darling,” Vanessa said, leaning down to kiss my cheek. Her lipstick left a red stain on my skin, and I had to fight not to wipe it off. “I brought some things for you to sign.”
She set the papers on my lap. I glanced at the top page.
Power of Attorney.
“Just standard stuff,” she said, flipping through the pages. “So I can run the company while you… recover. The board is already on board. They think it’s best for everyone.”
Her mother nodded. “It’s such a responsibility, dear. You don’t need to worry your pretty little head about it. Vanessa will take excellent care of everything.”
I stared at them.
They thought I was stupid. They thought I was broken. They thought I’d sign my life away without a second thought.
“I need to read them first,” I said.
Vanessa’s smile tightened. “Oh, don’t be silly. It’s all just legal jargon. Your lawyer already approved it.”
“Which lawyer?” I asked.
She hesitated, just for a second. “Your regular one. James.”
I almost laughed. James was my oldest friend, the man I’d trusted with my life since college. He’d never in a million years approve this.
“Call him,” I said. “I want to hear it from him.”
Vanessa’s face went cold. “He’s busy. Out of town. Now sign the papers, Ethan. Don’t make this difficult.”
She shoved a pen into my hand. Her grip was tight, her nails digging into my skin.
The door creaked open.
It was Clara, carrying a basket of clean linens. She froze when she saw the scene, her eyes darting from the papers to Vanessa’s angry face to the pen in my hand.
“Get out,” Vanessa snapped. “Can’t you see we’re busy?”
Clara lowered her head, but she didn’t move. “I’m sorry, ma’am. Mr. Hale’s sheets need changing. It’s on the schedule.”
“Then do it later,” Vanessa said. “Now get—”
“Let her stay,” I said. My voice was calm, but my hand was shaking around the pen. “She’s just doing her job.”
Vanessa glared at Clara, but she stepped back. Clara moved to the other side of the bed, changing the sheets with quick, efficient movements. As she passed behind Vanessa, she leaned down, so close her hair brushed my ear, and whispered so quiet only I could hear.
“Those papers are fake. James called this morning. He’s in the city. He never saw them.”
My blood ran cold.
I dropped the pen. It clattered on the floor, loud as a gunshot.
“I can’t do this,” I said, letting my voice shake, letting them see what they thought was fear. “I’m too tired. My head hurts. Come back tomorrow.”
Vanessa opened her mouth to argue, but her mother touched her arm. “Let him rest, dear. He’s been through so much. We can come back tomorrow.”
They left, the door slamming behind them.
Clara finished changing the sheets, then knelt down to pick up the pen. She slipped a small piece of paper into my palm as she stood.
“James is waiting for you in the library,” she said quietly. “He has a back entrance. No one saw him come in.”
I squeezed the paper in my hand.
“Clara,” I said. “If Vanessa finds out you’re helping me, she’ll hurt you.”
May you like
She looked at me, her eyes steady.
“Then we’ll just have to make sure she doesn’t find out.”
