Chapter 16 - The Hospital
Nathan survived surgery.
The bullet had missed his liver by less than an inch.
Valentina sat beside Elliot in the hospital waiting room while dawn turned the windows gray.
Elliot held an untouched cupcake from the cafeteria.
“Can I eat this one?” he asked quietly.
Valentina nearly broke.
She pulled him close.
“Yes, baby. You never have to ask me that again.”
He took one bite, then offered her the rest.
At nine, Rachel arrived with news.
“The closing is frozen. Blackthorn is secure.”
“And the trust?”
“Locked. Nobody moves a dollar without court approval.”
Valentina nodded.
“What about Gloria?”
“Kidnapping, attempted murder, fraud, forgery, embezzlement. That’s just the beginning.”
Serena entered a few minutes later.
She looked smaller without the wedding gown.
“I canceled the marriage license filing,” she said.
Valentina looked at her.
“Why?”
“My fiancé knew about the transfer.”
Another betrayal.
Serena sat across from her.
“I’m sorry about Elliot.”
“He’s six.”
“I know.”
“You watched your mother treat him like dirt for months.”
Serena started crying.
Valentina did not comfort her.
Some apologies deserved silence before forgiveness.
A nurse appeared.
“Mrs. Reyes? Your husband is awake.”
Nathan’s face was pale when Valentina entered his room.
“I need to tell you something before the police do,” he said.
Valentina stopped beside the bed.
“What?”
Nathan looked at her with exhausted shame.
“I knew Mom was stealing money three months ago.”
May you like
“I know.”
“No,” he whispered. “You don’t know all of it.”
