Chương 9
“Because whoever prepared this packet represented that Briar Gate Holdings has a contractual right to a future distribution.”
Calvin’s voice went flat.
“It does not.”
I looked between them.
“So the whole transaction is built on fake paperwork.”
“Possibly.”
Dana tapped the screen.
“Or somebody believes the paperwork is real.”
My phone buzzed.
Vanessa.
I ignored it.
Then it buzzed again.
A text.
I opened it.
Derek is here.
My stomach tightened.
Another message followed.
He says we are closing today no matter what.
I typed back with shaking thumbs.
Where are you?
The response came immediately.
Evan’s office.
Dana looked at Calvin.
“Langford Advisory?”
I nodded.
Vanessa sent another message.
He took my phone before but I have it now.
Then another.
He is saying if I back out, we lose everything.
I stared at the words.
“What does she think they already own?”
Calvin asked.
“I don’t know.”
My phone rang.
Vanessa.
I answered.
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“He’s in the bathroom.”
“Leave.”
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.”
“No.”
Her breath caught.
“There’s something you need to see first.”
“Send it.”
“I’m trying.”
“What is it?”
“A document.”
“What document?”
She swallowed.
“It has Holly’s name on it.”
Everything inside me stopped.
“What does it say?”
“I don’t understand all of it.”
“Read me the first line.”
Paper rustled.
Then Vanessa’s voice changed.
She sounded frightened in a way I had never heard before.
“It says Petition for Emergency Guardianship and Financial Conservatorship.”
Calvin stood so abruptly the chair struck the wall.
I could barely speak.
“Guardianship of who?”
Vanessa whispered the answer.
“Holly.”
I heard a door open on Vanessa’s end of the call.
She stopped breathing.
Then Derek’s voice came through, closer than before.
“Who are you talking to?”
Vanessa whispered, “No one.”
Calvin grabbed my wrist and pointed toward the speaker icon.
I switched it off.
“Vanessa,” I said quietly.
She did not answer.
Derek spoke again.
“You’re lying.”
There was a scraping sound, like a chair being shoved back.
I stood so fast my knee hit the side table.
“Vanessa.”
Her voice came out strained.
“I have to go.”
The call ended.
For half a second, nobody moved.
Then Calvin said, “Send her one message.”
I already had my phone open.
“What do I say?”
“Tell her not to sign anything and not to delete anything.”
I typed it.
Dana was already packing her laptop.
“I’m calling the closing attorney.”
“Can you stop it?” I asked.
“Maybe.”
“Maybe is not good enough.”
“It’s the accurate answer.”
I wanted to scream at her.
Instead I looked at Holly.
Her eyes were closed again.
The monitor kept its steady rhythm.
My entire body seemed split between two places.
One part of me wanted to stay beside her bed forever.
The other wanted to drive across town and drag every piece of paper out of Derek’s hands.
Calvin seemed to read the conflict on my face.
“You stay.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“He is trying to use Holly.”
“And Holly is here.”
“He is trying to take control of her.”
Calvin’s expression hardened.
“A petition is not an order.”
“What if he files it?”
“Then we respond.”
“What if he already filed it?”
“Then we verify.”
I hated how calm he sounded.
“How can you be calm?”
“I am not calm.”
“You look calm.”
“I have had sixty-seven years to practice looking unlike how I feel.”
Dana stepped closer.
“The existence of a guardianship petition doesn’t mean he can walk into court and take over.”
“What would he even claim?”
“That depends on the petition.”
“She is my daughter.”
“Yes.”
“I make her medical decisions.”
“Yes.”
“Then what possible argument does he have?”
Calvin’s jaw tightened.
“He may try to argue incapacity, conflict of interest, misuse of assets, or unstable decision-making.”
For a second, I did not understand.
Then I did.
“He’s going to say I’m wasting money trying to keep her alive.”
Calvin did not answer.
He did not have to.
A pulse started behind my eyes.
“He’s going to make me sound irrational.”
Dana looked at me.
“If that is the strategy, he’ll need evidence.”
I laughed once.
“He has months of messages from me begging doctors for options.”
“That is not the same thing as incapacity.”
“He has recordings of me crying.”
“Crying is not incapacity.”
“He has me slapping him in a hospital room.”
That silenced all three of us.
The shame returned immediately.
I looked down at my hand.
It still tingled when I thought about the slap.
Calvin’s voice softened.
“That was a mistake.”
“I know.”
“Do not make it a larger one by panicking now.”
The door to Holly’s room opened.
Dr. Patel stepped out.
His expression brought every financial fear in me to a halt.
“What?”
He gestured toward the room.
“She’s maintaining better oxygenation now.”
I exhaled.
“But?”
“We’re keeping the support where it is for the moment.”
“Does that change Boston?”
“Not yet.”
“Not yet.”
He looked toward Calvin and Dana, then back at me.
“They need updated scans today.”
“When?”
“Within the next few hours.”
“Will she tolerate that?”
“We think so.”
“Think?”
Dr. Patel gave me the same patient look he had probably used with hundreds of frightened parents.
“Marissa, there are very few guarantees available to us right now.”
I nodded.
“Okay.”
“She may be tired afterward.”
“Okay.”
“And the Boston team asked to speak with you directly.”
My throat tightened.
“When?”
“They’ll call before noon.”
“Okay.”
He started away.
“Dr. Patel.”
He turned.
“If someone tried to say I was making unreasonable medical decisions for Holly, what would you say?”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“Why are you asking?”
“Because Derek may file something.”
“What kind of something?”
“A guardianship petition.”
The change in his face was subtle but immediate.
“Over Holly?”
“Yes.”
He looked toward her room.
“Has he raised medical objections with me?”
“No.”
“Has he attended the recent treatment planning meetings?”
“No.”
May you like
“Has he asked for a second opinion?”
“No.”
