Chapter 4 - Choose Your Next Words
Mark’s face tightened as Carol stood trembling in the hospital room.
“What don’t I know?”
Carol looked toward the nurse.
“Not here.”
Emily adjusted the blanket around Lily.
“No. Here is fine.”
Mark stepped toward his mother.
“Did you hear something about Emily?”
Carol’s eyes filled with tears.
“I was trying to protect you.”
Emily felt Nurse Dana move closer to the bed.
Mark looked confused.
“Protect me from what?”
Carol glanced toward Emily’s phone.
The call with Rachel was still connected.
Rachel’s voice came through calmly.
“Emily, do not discuss financial details until hospital security arrives.”
Mark froze.
“Financial details?”
Emily looked at him.
“My accountant found withdrawals from the company expense account.”
His expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Carol noticed.
So did Emily.
“You knew,” Emily said.
Mark shook his head too quickly.
“It was temporary.”
The nurse quietly stepped toward the doorway.
Emily did not raise her voice.
“How much?”
Carol began crying.
“Emily, please. I was going to repay everything.”
Mark looked at his mother.
“You said she didn’t know yet.”
The room went silent.
He had just confessed without understanding that he had done it.
Rachel spoke through the phone.
“Mark, choose your next words carefully.”
He stared at the device.
Emily recognized the irony.
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Minutes earlier, he had demanded proof that Lily belonged to him.
Now every word coming from his mouth proved exactly who he was.
