Chapter 3: The Man Who Sat Beside My Hospital Bed
Victor placed his briefcase on the dining table as if he owned the mansion.
In some ways, he believed he did.
For twenty-six years, he had been my father's closest business partner. He had attended every family celebration, stood beside us at funerals, and spent Christmas dinners telling stories about how he and my father had built Blackwood Holdings from nothing.
He was practically family.
Which made his betrayal even worse.
"Adrian, I have to say, this is quite a surprise," Victor said.
He poured himself a glass of water.
"Seven months in a wheelchair, and suddenly you're walking around.""
"Medical miracles happen.""
Victor smiled.
"Absolutely.""
Emma stood near the staircase, watching him carefully.
My father remained beside the fireplace.
I pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Please, Victor. Join us.""
He studied my face.
"What's this about?""
"I wanted to thank you.""
"For what?""
"For visiting me in the hospital.""
Victor's expression softened.
"Of course. You know how much I care about you.""
"You came almost every day.""
"You're like a son to me.""
I looked at his gold watch.
"Do you remember the night of the accident?""
His fingers stopped moving.
"Of course.""
"Where were you?""
"At home.""
"All night?""
"Yes.""
"Interesting.""
He frowned.
"What is?""
"Because the hospital records show you arrived at 11:42 p.m. The accident happened at 10:58.""
Victor shrugged.
"I heard about it and rushed over.""
"From your house?""
"Yes.""
"Which is forty-five minutes away.""
He looked toward my father.
Richard shifted uncomfortably.
Victor took a drink.
"Adrian, what exactly are you suggesting?""
I leaned back.
"Nothing. I'm asking questions.""
"Then ask the police.""
"I already did.""
For the first time, Victor's smile faded.
I continued.
"They found traces of a chemical compound on my brake lines. It wasn't ordinary wear and tear. Someone deliberately damaged the system.""
Victor set down his glass.
"That's terrible.""
"Yes. Especially because the mechanic who performed the work received payment from an account connected to our company.""
He nodded slowly.
"Internal fraud is unfortunately common.""
"You're right.""
I opened a folder.
"That's why I brought these.""
Inside were copies of bank transfers, phone records, and photographs from the parking garage.
Victor barely glanced at them.
"These documents don't prove anything.""
"Not yet.""
He leaned back.
"Adrian, if you suspect someone, tell the authorities. Don't turn a family gathering into a courtroom.""
"That's funny. You spent seven months telling everyone I was incapable of managing my own affairs. Now that I'm standing, you suddenly want me to stop asking questions.""
Victor's jaw tightened.
My father stepped forward.
"That's enough. We can discuss business tomorrow.""
I turned toward him.
"No. We discuss it now.""
Victor gave a short laugh.
"Your father is right. You're recovering from a traumatic experience. You shouldn't be making major decisions.""
I stared at him.
"That's exactly what you told me in the hospital.""
He went still.
I remembered that conversation clearly.
I had been lying in a hospital bed, unable to move my legs. Machines beeped beside me. My head was wrapped in bandages, and every breath hurt.
Victor had sat beside me, holding my hand.
"Don't worry, Adrian," he had said.
"I'll take care of everything.""
At the time, I thought he was being kind.
Then he had leaned closer.
"Your father is getting old. Let me handle the company. You should focus on getting better.""
I had agreed.
Because I trusted him.
Now I understood why he had been so eager to take control.
"Victor," I said, "do you remember bringing me those documents to sign?""
He nodded.
"Of course. Routine corporate paperwork.""
"You told me they were temporary authorizations.""
"They were.""
"Then why did I discover that one of them transferred my voting rights to you?""
His face turned red.
"That was a misunderstanding.""
"A misunderstanding worth several billion dollars?""
My father looked at Victor.
"What is he talking about?""
Victor ignored him.
"Adrian, you were heavily medicated. You probably don't remember the details.""
"I remember enough.""
I opened another document.
"Three days after the accident, someone attempted to transfer controlling shares of Blackwood Holdings into a private investment company registered in Delaware.""
Victor stood.
"That's confidential business information.""
"Not anymore.""
"You have no idea what you're doing.""
"Then explain why your name appears on the company's registration.""
Victor slammed his hand against the table.
"Because I was protecting your interests!""
Emma stepped closer.
"Please lower your voice.""
Victor turned toward her.
"This has nothing to do with you.""
"It does when you're threatening him.""
He laughed.
"You're a temporary distraction, sweetheart. You have no understanding of the business world.""
Emma didn't move.
"At least I understand the difference between helping someone and trying to steal his life.""
Victor stared at her.
Then he looked at me.
"Adrian, you need to control the people around you.""
I stood.
"Don't worry about the people around me. Worry about yourself.""
His eyes dropped briefly to my legs.
"You really think standing up makes you powerful?""
"No.""
I moved closer.
"Knowing who tried to kill me does.""
The room fell silent.
Victor looked at my father.
"Richard, are you going to let him accuse me like this?""
My father didn't answer.
For the first time, I saw uncertainty in his face.
I took the small recording device from my jacket and placed it on the table.
"There's something else.""
Victor stared at it.
"What is that?""
"A recording.""
His expression hardened.
I pressed the button.
A few seconds of static filled the room.
Then Victor's voice came through.
"Next time, Adrian, I won't make the mistake of leaving you alive.""
My father's whiskey glass slipped from his hand and shattered against the floor.
Emma covered her mouth.
Victor didn't move.
Then he smiled.
"That's an interesting recording.""
"Isn't it?""
"Completely out of context.""
"Then give us the context.""
He looked at me for several seconds.
Then he reached into his briefcase.
"I think you should see something before you make another accusation.""
He pulled out a thick envelope and placed it on the table.
My name was written across the front.
In my mother's handwriting.
My heart stopped.
"Where did you get that?""
Victor's smile returned.
"Your mother gave it to me shortly before she died.""
I stared at the envelope.
My mother had been dead for eleven years.
"What does she have to do with this?""
Victor slowly opened the envelope and removed a single sheet of paper.
"Everything.""
He turned it toward me.
At the bottom was my mother's signature.
Above it was a sentence that made my entire body go cold.
If anything happens to Adrian, the person responsible will be the one his father trusts most.
I looked at Richard.
My father had gone completely pale.
And then Victor spoke again.
"There's one more thing you should know, Adrian.""
He placed a second photograph on the table.
It showed my mother standing outside a hospital room.
Beside her was a woman holding a newborn baby.
A woman who looked exactly like Emma.
I slowly turned toward the woman who had just risked her life to save mine.
May you like
Emma's eyes filled with tears.
"Adrian," she whispered, "there's something about my family I've never told you.""
