Chapter 13 - THE WRONG MEDICINE
Olivia recovered quickly.
The collapse was caused by lingering effects and stress, not a new dose.
But it changed the case.
Daniel sat beside Emma in the hospital hallway.
She looked small.
“Is Olivia going to die?”
“No.”
“You promise?”
Daniel hesitated.
Then said:
“I promise the doctors are taking care of her.”
Emma nodded.
She accepted the careful answer.
Daniel looked at her and felt something terrifying.
If the DNA claim was true, she might be his daughter.
But he refused to let that change the investigation.
Not yet.
Laura arrived under supervision.
Emma ran to her.
Then stopped halfway.
“You gave Olivia medicine too.”
Laura froze.
Emma’s face hardened.
“You lied.”
Laura knelt.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Laura cried.
“I thought I was proving what Daddy was doing.”
“You hurt her.”
“Yes.”
Emma looked toward Olivia’s room.
Then back.
“I don’t want to go with you.”
Laura closed her eyes.
That consequence landed harder than any criminal charge.
Michael arrived in custody for a court hearing at the hospital.
He saw Laura.
Then Emma.
Then Daniel.
His eyes narrowed.
“Why is she looking at you like that?”
No one answered.
Michael looked at Eleanor.
Something passed between them.
He understood.
“No.”
Eleanor whispered:
“Michael.”
“No.”
He turned to Daniel.
“You?”
Daniel stayed calm.
“We don’t know anything yet.”
Michael laughed.
“You knew Laura.”
“Yes.”
“Before me?”
“Yes.”
Michael’s face changed.
The controlling father disappeared.
For one second, there was only a betrayed man.
Then anger returned.
“You stay away from my daughter.”
Daniel said:
“She is not property.”
Michael lunged one step.
Officers restrained him.
Emma recoiled.
Michael saw her fear.
He stopped fighting immediately.
That mattered.
He looked at Emma.
His voice softened.
“I’m sorry.”
Emma said nothing.
Michael’s eyes filled.
“You’re still my daughter.”
Daniel watched him.
For all Michael’s crimes, that sentence sounded real.
Then Eleanor whispered:
“Not if the test is true.”
Michael turned.
His face became cold.
“Mother.”
Eleanor realized her mistake.
Too late.
Emma heard.
May you like
And for the first time, she asked:
“What test?”
