Chapter 5 - The Diagnosis
I stared intensely at the thick medical file resting on the mahogany table.
"That is a severe violation of my medical privacy," I stated loudly.
Grant looked around the busy room with a perfectly practiced expression of deep sorrow.
"I am only doing this because I love you, Evelyn."
He pointed a finger solemnly at the folder.
"The board has a legal right to know that you are not mentally fit to make decisions for this company."
One of the older board members carefully opened the file and adjusted his glasses.
"This report says you have been prescribed heavy antipsychotic medication for the past six months," the board member read aloud.
"That is an absolute lie," I fired back angrily.
"I visited Dr. Evans yesterday for a routine physical checkup, not a psychiatric evaluation."
Daniel suddenly slammed his hands down on the table, startling everyone.
"This document is clearly forged, just like the ridiculous share transfer."
"Is it really?" Grant challenged smoothly.
"Call Dr. Evans right now on speakerphone and ask him yourself."
The board secretary reluctantly put his phone on speaker and dialed the private clinic.
A woman answered the phone on the second ring.
"Dr. Evans' office, how may I help you today?"
"We urgently need to verify some medical records for an Evelyn Mercer."
"Hold on one moment, please."
The line clicked over, and a deep voice filled the quiet boardroom.
"This is Dr. Evans speaking."
"Doctor, can you confirm that Evelyn Mercer is currently under your care for severe paranoid schizophrenia?"
My heart stopped completely as I waited for the truth.
I waited for my trusted doctor of ten years to expose this ridiculous, career-ending lie.
"Yes, I can formally confirm that diagnosis," Dr. Evans said clearly over the speakerphone.
"Mrs. Mercer has been experiencing severe delusions and should absolutely not be making financial decisions."
The room went dead silent.
I felt the solid floor drop entirely out from underneath me.
"Thank you for your time, Doctor," Grant said softly before ending the call.
The board members looked at me with a sickening mixture of pity and fear.
"We will vote on Grant's motion to remove her right now," the secretary whispered.
All twelve hands went up immediately.
Even my father's oldest friends voted to remove me from the company my family built.
"Motion officially passes," the secretary finalized.
"Security will escort you out of the building now, Evelyn."
Two large men in black suits immediately stepped into the conference room.
Daniel firmly grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the door.
"Do not say another word," Daniel whispered sharply in my ear.
"We need to leave right now before they legally call an ambulance to institutionalize you."
We hurried into the private elevator and descended rapidly to the underground parking garage.
"How did he possibly get to Dr. Evans?" I asked, my voice shaking with rage.
"Grant is spending millions of dollars to meticulously build this fake narrative," Daniel said as we reached his car.
"But he made one massive, amateur mistake."
"What mistake is that?"
Daniel opened his leather briefcase and pulled out a grainy surveillance photo.
"Dr. Evans didn't lie to the board for money."
May you like
Daniel handed me the shocking photograph.
"He lied because Vanessa Blake is his biological daughter."
