Chapter 4 - The Altered Settings
The next morning brought a startling and sinister surprise. Nia's phone displayed a notification from the hospital that she initially expected to be routine discharge information. Instead, she read it twice, then a third time, her blood running cold: Patient contact preferences have been updated by the authorized spouse. Non-essential calls are to be redirected through Mr. Mercer's office.
Nia's face hardened. “He changed my contact settings.” Lena turned around in shock, asking what he had done, and her expression darkened when she realized Caleb had executed that control while Nia was still recovering in the hospital. It suddenly became crystal clear: Caleb wasn't merely cheating on her; he was actively controlling access to her. He had begun deciding who could reach her, what information could reach her, and, most importantly, what she might accidentally discover.
Just as the implications of his control settled in, her phone rang. An unknown number. It rang again, and Nia finally answered, her voice taut. “Hello?” A calm male voice responded on the other end, introducing himself as Adrien Cole from Northstar Capital Group, stating he believed she needed to hear something before Caleb could do anything else.
