Chapter 4: The Doctor Who Brought Me Pain
The room felt smaller after Vincent said those words.
“The person who gave you the brace in the first place.””
Nobody spoke.
Because everyone knew what that meant.
Every eye turned toward Samuel Mercer.
My doctor.
My friend.
The man who had treated me after the accident.
The man who had sat beside my hospital bed when I couldn’t sleep because the pain was unbearable.
Samuel looked like someone had struck him.
“No.””
His voice was barely audible.
“Dominic, no.””
I watched his face carefully.
For fifteen years, I had learned how to read people.
Executives lied with confidence.
Lawyers lied with preparation.
Politicians lied with smiles.
But Samuel didn’t look prepared.
He looked devastated.
Arthur stepped back into the conversation immediately.
“This is unfortunate.””
The way he said it made my skin crawl.
Not because he sounded concerned.
Because he sounded relieved.
“Dominic,” Arthur continued, “I know Samuel has been your physician for years, but emotions cannot cloud judgment.””
I looked at him.
“Be quiet.””
The room went still.
Arthur wasn’t used to hearing those words.
Not from me.
Not in front of others.
Vincent walked toward Samuel.
“Doctor Mercer, I need your cooperation.””
Samuel stared at him.
“My cooperation?””
“Your access codes were used to enter the equipment storage room three days ago.””
Samuel shook his head.
“That’s impossible.””
“Your credentials.””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“Dominic, listen to me.””
I said nothing.
That hurt him more than an accusation.
Because Samuel had always been the one person I trusted without hesitation.
He had seen me at my weakest.
He had seen me unable to stand.
Unable to sleep.
Unable to accept that my own body had failed me.
“After the accident,” Samuel said quietly, “you were in constant pain. I was the one who designed that brace because the original support system was damaging your recovery.””
I looked at the brace on my leg.
“And now someone used your design to hurt me.””
His expression collapsed.
“I didn’t do that.””
Before I could respond, Ellie stepped closer.
“Mommy says people who tell the truth look at your eyes.””
Everyone looked at her.
She pointed at Samuel.
“He’s looking.””
The tension broke for one second.
Clare quickly touched her daughter’s shoulder.
“Ellie, honey.””
But I noticed.
Samuel was looking directly at me.
Arthur wasn’t.
Arthur looked away.
That small movement mattered.
“Vincent,” I said.
“Yes?””
“Take Samuel’s access temporarily.””
Samuel closed his eyes.
The pain on his face was obvious.
“Dominic…”
“I’m sorry.””
Those words felt worse than anger.
Because they meant I didn’t know who to trust.
Vincent escorted Samuel toward the door.
Before leaving, Samuel stopped.
“There is something you need to know.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“The brace was never supposed to have a silver retaining plate.””
Everyone froze.
“What?””
Samuel looked at the evidence bag.
“That piece wasn’t part of my design.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Then why was it there?””
He looked at Arthur.
And Arthur’s expression changed.
“I don’t know,” Samuel said.
“But whoever added it knew exactly where to put it.””
Arthur immediately laughed.
“This is becoming ridiculous.””
Samuel ignored him.
“They weren’t trying to make you unable to walk.””
That caught my attention.
“What were they trying to do?””
Samuel looked at my leg.
“They were trying to make your condition appear unpredictable.””
The room went silent.
“Why?””
“So people would believe your injury was worsening naturally.””
I understood.
Arthur didn’t need to destroy me.
He only needed everyone to believe I was destroying myself.
A sick man.
An unstable leader.
A CEO who needed someone else to take over.
I turned toward Arthur.
“You planned this.””
His jaw tightened.
“Careful.””
“No.””
I stepped forward.
“You planned my decline.””
Arthur’s smile returned.
But this time, it looked different.
Cold.
“You’re making a dangerous mistake, Dominic.””
“Am I?””
“Yes.””
He looked around the room.
“At the end of the day, everyone here will remember one thing.””
He pointed at my cane.
“You’re injured.””
Nobody moved.
Arthur walked toward the door.
“And I’m the only person who can keep your empire standing.””
Vincent moved to stop him.
I raised my hand.
“Let him go.””
Everyone looked surprised.
Arthur smiled.
He thought he had won.
But he didn’t understand something.
A person who thinks they are escaping often reveals where they are going.
As the door closed behind him, my phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
One message.
A photo.
I opened it.
And my blood turned cold.
It was a picture taken inside my private medical room.
Taken yesterday.
The person standing there wasn’t Samuel.
Wasn’t Arthur.
It was me.
While I was sleeping.
May you like
And written beneath the photo were six words:
*You trusted the wrong person first.*
