Chapter 60

MAX POV

"Alright, Mr. Kenneth," I said, keeping my tone professional. "I’m going to guide your hand so you can sign. Don’t worry about a thing…I’ll make sure it’s done exactly the way it should be."

I leaned over him, taking his limp hand gently in mine. I placed the pen between his fingers, positioning it just right.

My eyes darted to the paper, lining up his hand with the signature line. This is it, I thought, my excitement bubbling under the surface.

But just as I was about to lower his hand to the paper, the door swung open.

"Time’s up," the police officer announced, stepping into the room. His voice was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. "Your minutes to check on Mr. Kenneth are over."

My heart sank. I froze, still holding Mr. Kenneth’s hand. The officer’s eyes fell on me, then on the contract and pen. He frowned.

"I, uh..." I stammered, trying to think of an excuse, but my mind was blank.

The officer stepped closer. "Is there a problem?" he asked, his tone carrying suspicion.

"No, no problem," I said quickly, forcing a smile. I gently let go of Mr. Kenneth’s hand and set the pen down. "I was just... making sure he was comfortable. We were having a little chat about the company."

The officer didn’t look convinced. He folded his arms across his chest, his gaze unwavering.

"Well, your time is up," he said firmly. "I need you to leave now."

I hesitated, my mind racing. I couldn’t leave without that signature. This was my chance…my only chance…and it was slipping through my fingers.

"I understand," I said reluctantly, backing away from the bed. But inside, I was panicking. What do I do now? I thought. If I don’t get that signature, the whole plan falls apart.

I glanced back at Mr. Kenneth, still lying there with his eyes closed. He was so close to signing, so close to sealing the deal. My frustration was bubbling over, but I couldn’t let it show.

“I’ve been patient enough, Mr. Kenneth,” I said softly to myself as I stood over the hospital bed.

The steady beeping of the heart monitor filled the room, a constant reminder of his fragile state. His eyes remained shut, but I knew better. He could hear me, even if he didn’t want to respond.

“You’ve left me no choice,” I continued , still whispering to myself. “ I have been planning this for a long time now and today, it’s happening. I’ll make sure of it.”

Just then, a loud ringtone shattered the quiet atmosphere. My head whipped toward the source, startled.

“Hello?” the police officer muttered, pulling out his phone. He frowned at the screen, muttering something under his breath. “It’s my senior.”

He hesitated, glancing first at his phone, then at Mr. Kenneth on the bed. His indecision was evident, but I stayed quiet, pretending to focus on the chair by the corner of the room.

“Why now?” the officer murmured irritably, silencing the phone’s ringtone. He glanced at Mr. Kenneth again, then turned to me. “I’ll be right back. Stay here and don’t touch anything.”

“Of course, Officer,” I said, forcing a calm tone. “I’ll make sure everything’s fine.”

He gave me a suspicious look before turning and walking toward the door.

I waited until the door clicked shut behind him. The sound of his footsteps faded, leaving only the soft hum of machines and the faint murmur of voices in the hallway.

This was my moment.

Without wasting another second, I rushed to the bedside and pulled the contract and pen from my jacket pocket. My hands trembled slightly, but I forced myself to focus.

“Alright, Mr. Kenneth,” I whispered, spreading the papers out on the tray table. “This has taken long enough. Let’s get it done.”

I leaned closer to him, lowering my voice to an urgent whisper.

His eyes stayed closed, his face pale and unmoving. But I wasn’t fooled. I could feel the tension in the air, as if he was trying to hold the pen but it fell due to his weakened state.

I placed the pen between his limp fingers, arranging his hand carefully. As I guided his hand toward the signature line, the faint sound of approaching footsteps reached my ears. My heart skipped a beat.

I froze, glancing toward the door. The officer’s shadow appeared under the crack, growing larger with every step.

“No, no, no,” I whispered, panic rising in my chest. My hands shook as I tried to position the pen.

“Come on, just one stroke,” I muttered, beads of sweat forming on my forehead.

The doorknob turned, and I felt a jolt of fear. My mind raced. Should I hide the papers? Pretend nothing happened?

The door creaked open, and the officer stepped in. His sharp gaze immediately locked on me.

“What are you doing?” he asked, his tone suspicious.

I straightened up, my heart kept racing. “Just…adjusting his blanket,” I said, my voice shaky.

The officer’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at the pen in Mr. Kenneth’s hand and the papers on the tray table. “What’s that?”

“Nothing important,” I said quickly, moving to cover the documents with my hand.

His gaze hardened. “Step aside.”

I hesitated, my mind racing for an excuse. But before I could say anything, Mr. Kenneth’s fingers twitched slightly, and the pen slipped from his grip.

The officer’s eyes flicked between Mr. Kenneth and me. “What were you doing?”

“Like I said, just adjusting…”

“Don’t lie to me,” he snapped, stepping closer.

The tension in the room was suffocating. My palms were sweaty, and I could feel the weight of his suspicion bearing down on me.

“I swear, Officer,” I said, my voice trembling. “I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”

He didn’t look convinced. Taking another step forward, he reached for the tray table. My heart raced as I realized he was about to see the contract.

“No!” I blurted out, grabbing the papers before he could.