Chapter 8 - The Sister Who Was Hiding a Secret|
Clara felt the phone slip in her hand.
Emily.
Her little sister.
The person she'd supported through nursing school.
The person who brought groceries when Clara was too exhausted to shop.
The person who sat beside her after Marcus humiliated her.
Emily worked at St. Augustine as a pharmacy technician.
She had started eight months earlier.
Clara had been proud of her.
Now her credentials appeared in the investigation.
"Rebecca, there has to be a mistake."
"That's possible."
"Emily would never steal medication."
"We don't know that she did."
Clara closed her eyes.
"Then why is her account involved?"
"That's what we need to establish."
Clara looked toward the hotel bathroom.
Emily was inside, humming as she brushed her teeth.
For a moment, Clara couldn't breathe.
Then Rebecca spoke.
"Clara, don't accuse her without evidence. But she may need independent legal advice."
Clara swallowed.
"Okay."
After the call, she sat on the bed.
When Emily emerged, she immediately noticed Clara's expression.
"What's wrong?"
Clara looked at her sister.
"Emily, I need to ask you something."
Emily froze.
"What?"
"Has anyone at the hospital asked you to access medication records you weren't supposed to?"
The color drained from Emily's face.
Clara's heart sank.
"Emily?"
Her sister sat down slowly.
"Clara, I can explain."
Clara felt tears sting her eyes.
"Then explain."
Emily covered her face.
"Marcus told me you were being investigated."
Clara stared.
"What?"
"He said your nursing license was at risk. He told me some documentation had been entered incorrectly."
Clara's stomach tightened.
"And?"
"He said I could help correct the records."
Clara closed her eyes.
"Oh, Emily."
Her sister began crying.
"I thought I was helping you."
"What did you do?"
Emily looked terrified.
"I logged into a workstation and followed the instructions he gave me."
Clara leaned forward.
"Did you use your own credentials?"
"Yes."
"Did anyone else see you?"
"Brittany."
Clara felt cold.
Of course.
Brittany.
Marcus.
The records.
All of it.
"Emily, did you know the transactions were false?"
"No!"
Her sister shook her head.
"I thought they were corrections."
Clara took a trembling breath.
"Then you need to tell investigators exactly what happened."
Emily began crying harder.
"What if I lose my job?"
Clara pulled her into an embrace.
"I don't know, sweetheart."
She stroked Emily's hair.
"But hiding it will only make things worse."
Emily clung to her.
"I'm sorry."
Clara closed her eyes.
Her little sister had been used.
Just as Clara had been used.
And the worst part was realizing how carefully Marcus had chosen their weaknesses.
Clara's love for her career.
Emily's love for Clara.
By morning, Emily had retained an attorney and agreed to cooperate with the investigation.
Clara accompanied her to the legal office.
She waited outside while Emily gave her statement.
Then she received a message from Adrian.
I heard your sister may be involved. Is there anything I can do?
Clara stared.
She typed:
Please don't interfere. She needs a fair investigation.
His reply came immediately.
Agreed.
Clara sat back.
That single word mattered more than he probably realized.
He could have offered to make everything disappear.
He could have promised to save Emily.
He could have used his influence.
Instead, he respected the process.
That afternoon, Adrian visited the hospital's community health wing.
Clara was there meeting with a former colleague.
When she saw him enter, her heart jumped.
He wore a charcoal suit, his injured arm still supported.
A few patients recognized him.
Staff members whispered.
Adrian ignored the attention.
He approached Clara.
"Hello."
She smiled faintly.
"You're supposed to be resting."
"My doctors cleared me for a short visit."
"Did they?"
"Would you like written confirmation?"
Clara laughed.
It surprised both of them.
Then she noticed the small bouquet in his hand.
White daisies.
Her favorite.
She frowned.
"How did you know?"
"Rocco asked Emily before the investigation began."
Clara stared.
"You asked about my favorite flowers?"
Adrian looked almost embarrassed.
"Yes."
Her chest warmed.
Then he held them out.
"May I?"
She took the bouquet.
"Thank you."
For a moment, they stood smiling at each other.
Then a voice spoke behind them.
"How touching."
Clara turned.
Marcus stood near the entrance.
He looked disheveled.
Angry.
His expensive suit was wrinkled.
Brittany was nowhere in sight.
Adrian's expression hardened.
"Mr. Vale."
Marcus laughed bitterly.
"You destroyed my career."
Adrian said nothing.
Marcus pointed toward Clara.
"All because of her."
Clara stepped forward.
"No, Marcus. Your choices are being investigated. Don't blame me for that."
His face reddened.
"You always needed to be the center of attention."
Clara stared at him.
For two years, those words would have crushed her.
Now they sounded small.
Pathetic.
She looked him in the eyes.
"I spent six years caring for people while you cared about appearances."
Marcus flinched.
Clara continued.
"You don't get to make me ashamed of the body that carried me through twelve-hour shifts, sleepless nights, and everything else you put me through."
Adrian watched silently.
Marcus opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
Clara lifted her chin.
"I'm not hiding anymore."
Marcus's expression twisted.
"You think this is over?"
Adrian stepped forward.
"Leave."
Marcus laughed.
"You have no idea what's coming."
Then he pulled an envelope from his coat.
He threw it onto a nearby table.
Clara stared.
"What is that?"
Marcus looked directly at Adrian.
"Ask your new girlfriend why her father's name appears in the Northstar contracts."
Clara froze.
Her father.
The man who had died ten years earlier.
Adrian opened the envelope.
His expression changed.
Inside was an old photograph.
A younger Adrian stood beside a man Clara recognized immediately.
Thomas Bennett.
May you like
Her father.
And beneath the photograph was a contract signed by both men.
