Chapter 16 - The Truth Hidden In The Doctor’s Hands
Richard spent the entire night reading Eleanor’s journal.
Every page felt heavier than the last.
Not because it revealed secrets.
Because it revealed how alone she had been.
Eleanor had noticed things he never saw.
Small changes.
Missing files.
People acting differently.
Conversations that stopped when she entered the room.
She had been surrounded by warnings.
And Richard had been surrounded by success.
That was the cruelest part.
He thought he was protecting his family by building a bigger empire.
But while he was building walls outside the house…
the danger had already walked inside.
The next morning, Richard sat beside Maya’s bed.
She was asleep.
One hand held onto his finger.
He stayed there for hours.
No meetings.
No calls.
No excuses.
For the first time in years, Richard Sterling chose not to run from pain.
He sat with it.
Detective Hale arrived before noon.
“We found another connection.”
Richard looked up.
“What now?”
The detective placed a folder on the table.
“Dr. Reed wasn’t working alone.”
Richard opened it.
Inside were financial records.
Payments.
Transfers.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Victoria Vance.
Richard closed his eyes.
“No.”
“She received money before she met you.”
Richard looked at the documents.
“How much?”
The detective hesitated.
“Enough to make anyone ask questions.”
Richard confronted Victoria that evening.
She was sitting in the library.
No makeup.
No perfect smile.
Just a woman who looked exhausted.
“You paid Dr. Reed.”
Victoria looked up.
Silence.
That was enough.
Richard’s voice became quiet.
“Why?”
Victoria looked away.
“Because my father forced me.”
“That’s not an answer.”
She swallowed.
“I was afraid.”
Richard laughed bitterly.
“Everyone was afraid.”
The room became silent.
Victoria wiped her eyes.
“I wanted to leave.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“Because I became afraid of what my father would do if I walked away.”
Richard stared.
“You should have told me.”
Victoria nodded.
“Yes.”
A pause.
“I know.”
For the first time, Richard saw something clearly.
Victoria was guilty.
She had hurt Maya.
She had made choices that could never be erased.
But she was also someone who had been controlled for years.
Both things could be true.
And that was harder to accept.
Before Richard could respond, the security alarm sounded.
Everyone froze.
A guard’s voice came through the speaker.
“Sir, someone entered the east wing.”
Richard immediately ran.
Toward Maya.
Toward the nursery.
The door was open.
The room was empty.
On the floor was a small pink ribbon.
Maya’s ribbon.
And beside it…
May you like
a note.
YOU SAVED HER ONCE. LET’S SEE IF YOU CAN DO IT AGAIN.
