Chapter 3 - The Secret Patient
The revelation struck me like a physical blow to the chest.
My husband was supposed to be dead, yet someone was paying massive medical bills under his name.
I felt my knees buckle, but I forced myself to remain standing for Lily's sake.
I asked Clara to verify the dates again, hoping it was just a terrible administrative error.
Clara shook her head and confirmed that the billing timeline was completely accurate.
I turned to look at my mother, Denise, seeking some kind of logical explanation.
Instead of looking confused, my mother looked utterly terrified.
She was visibly trembling, and her knuckles were completely white from gripping her wineglass so tightly.
Aunt Patricia suddenly cleared her throat and took a slow step toward the hallway.
She forced a weak smile and said she needed to go to her car to fetch her medication.
Grandma Margaret did not even look at her when she raised her hand in the air.
The massive front door opened, and Grandma's personal chauffeur stepped inside, physically blocking the exit.
Grandma stated in an icy tone that nobody was leaving the house until the truth was entirely uncovered.
Patricia panicked and bumped into the hallway console table.
Her expensive designer purse fell to the floor, spilling lipstick, keys, and loose receipts everywhere.
Amidst the clutter, a cheap, plastic burner phone skidded across the hardwood floor and stopped near my wet sneakers.
The screen illuminated brightly, signaling an incoming text message.
I looked down at the glowing screen before Patricia could scramble to grab it.
May you like
The message was from an unsaved number, and the text was clearly visible on the lock screen.
The text read that the widow was asking too many questions, and it was time to initiate phase two.
