Emma's POVI supported the devastated Laura to the cafeteria, her weight leaning heavily against me as we walked. The fluorescent lights of the hospital cast a harsh glow over her tear-streaked face. We found a quiet corner and sat down. I offered her some water, which she took with shaking hands."Laura, tell me what's going on," I urged gently.Laura took a deep breath, her voice trembling. "It's my younger brother, Alex. He's in the ICU because of severe pneumonia. His prognosis isn't promising. He's been intubated and in the ICU for two months, and his condition is deteriorating. I don't know what to do."I squeezed her hand, trying to offer some comfort. "What about your parents? Are they here to support you?"Laura shook her head, a bitter smile on her lips. "They live in Kentucky. They've trusted Alex's care to me. I told them about his current situation, and they said they'd come next week."I frowned, struggling to understand. "Why would your parents burden you with Alex's ca
Daniel's POVI arrived at David's place, my mind still buzzing from Emma's worries. David greeted me at the door, his usual stern expression softened slightly with concern."Come in, Daniel. We have a lot to discuss," David said, leading me to his office. The room was filled with the faint scent of old books and leather, and the walls were lined with shelves overflowing with files and documents.We sat down, and David handed me a glass of whiskey. "You might need this."I took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through me. "What's the latest? Emma's really worried about this investigation Michael's launched."David nodded, his face grave. "Michael's announcement about the internal investigation is a smokescreen. He's trying to cover his tracks. My sources have uncovered that some key pieces of the tampered anesthetic evidence were linked to a different, unrelated case. It suggests a broader conspiracy."I frowned, the implications sinking in. "So Michael's involved in something bigger t
As soon as Emma and Lily walked through the door, Daniel greeted them with a warm smile. “How was your day, girls?” he asked, his voice full of affection.“Fine, Daddy!” Lily chirped, running off to her room.Daniel turned to Emma, his smile fading into concern. “And you, Emma?”Emma sighed, exhaustion evident in her posture. “I went to the hospital to confront Michael. I thought maybe I could get some evidence. But I came back with nothing.”Daniel’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. “Emma, you can’t approach him alone. He’s dangerous and obsessive about you. I don’t want you putting yourself in harm’s way.”Emma crossed her arms defensively. “We’ve talked about this, Daniel. I’m not going to let him intimidate me.”“You’re not allowed to go near him without me there. It’s not just about you anymore; it’s about our family’s safety.”They quarreled for a few minutes, voices rising in frustration. Then, Daniel suddenly pulled her close and kissed her deeply. “Okay, okay,” he sai
David's POVI stood in the security office, my heart pounding against my ribs. The guards had caught me with the recording device, and now I was surrounded, waiting for the hospital administrator to verify my story. Anxiety gnawed at me, knowing that every second counted. I had to think fast and stay calm.The hospital administrator walked in, her expression stern. She eyed me up and down before addressing the guard. “What do we have here?”“Caught him with this,” the guard said, holding up the small recording device.I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m David from the FBI. I was conducting an investigation.”The administrator’s brow furrowed as she scrutinized my ID. “We need to verify this with the FBI. Until then, you’ll stay here.”My pulse quickened. I knew I had to act fast. As they led me towards a side office, I discreetly activated my phone’s emergency contact feature, sending a silent alert to Daniel. I hoped help would arrive before things got worse. D
Michael's POV I sat back in my chair, watching the security footage of David being led away in handcuffs. A sense of satisfaction washed over me. This was a long time coming. David had overstepped, and now he was paying the price. But as I sat there, my thoughts drifted back to our childhood, to the days when we were inseparable. --- Growing up, David and I were more than just brothers; we were best friends. We did everything together. Scarlet was like a sister to us, always by our side, until that fateful day. I remember the accident vividly. Scarlet had pushed our mother out of the way of an oncoming car, sacrificing herself in the process. From that moment, everything changed. Scarlet became the center of our world, but for me, she was more than just a sister. I became overprotective, possessive even, while David’s feelings for her grew beyond brotherly love. One concrete memory stands out: the day Scarlet told her romantic feelings for me. We were sitting under the old
David's POVI felt the cold steel of the handcuffs dig into my wrists as I was led into the police station. My heart pounded with anxiety. This was not how I had envisioned the evening going. I was supposed to be the one gathering evidence, not becoming the evidence myself.The officers at the station were professional but suspicious. They escorted me to an interrogation room, where I was left alone for what felt like an eternity. The stark, sterile environment did nothing to calm my nerves. I knew I was in deep trouble.Finally, the door opened, and a detective walked in, followed by a familiar face – Michael's friend, Officer Jenkins. My stomach churned with unease."David," Jenkins said, taking a seat across from me. "You've put yourself in quite a predicament."I clenched my jaw. "I was investigating a case. You know I work for the FBI."Jenkins raised an eyebrow. "Without a warrant or proper authorization? That's a serious breach of protocol."I took a deep breath, trying to stea
Emma's POV The tension in our living room was palpable. Daniel paced back and forth, his worry lines deepening with each step. I sat on the edge of the couch, my fingers nervously tapping against my knee. David's custody had thrown us into a whirlwind of anxiety and uncertainty. "How could this happen?" Daniel muttered, running a hand through his hair. "David was supposed to be the one helping us, not ending up in jail." "I know," I replied softly, trying to keep my voice steady. "But we need to stay calm and think of a way to get him out. Michael is behind this, I'm sure of it." Daniel stopped pacing and looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and desperation. "Emma, we can't let Michael win. We have to find a way to prove David's innocence and expose Michael's crimes." I nodded, determined. "We will, Daniel. We just need to keep digging and find solid evidence." —- The shrill ring of my phone broke the tense silence. I quickly grabbed it, seeing Laura's name on
Daniel's POVThe steady hum of the hospital office was disrupted by the tense conversation I was having with Laura. I clutched the phone tightly, my knuckles white."Laura, slow down," I said, trying to process everything she was telling me. "You found a connection to the stolen anesthetics?""Yes, Daniel," Laura's voice was urgent. "While going through the financial records Michael gave me access to, I found a suspicious transaction linked to the stolen anesthetics from the time Scarlet was murdered."My heart raced. "And this implicates Michael?""Absolutely. It connects him directly to the theft and frames Emma. But the way I found it is illegal. If we use it, it could get me into serious trouble," Laura explained.I took a deep breath. "But if I, as the financial analyst working for the hospital, can access the same information legally, it becomes valid evidence.""Exactly," Laura confirmed. "You need to get authorization quickly.""Alright, I'll make the calls now," I said, deter