Chapter 93
Elsa
Vera's hand held the elevator door open, her features arranged in an expression of concern that didn't reach her calculating eyes.
"Elsa," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness.
I blinked, momentarily stunned. Part of me had hoped I was fucking mistaken when I'd glimpsed her earlier in the hospital corridor.
"What a coincidence," she continued when I didn't respond.
My jaw clenched so tight I thought my teeth might crack. I stepped out of the elevator without acknowledging her, my fingers instinctively tightening around Allen's jacket draped over my shoulders until my knuckles turned white. Allen followed, his tall frame providing a comforting barrier between Vera and me.
"Ms. Horton," Allen nodded curtly, his tone professional but cool.
"Mr. Moonlight," Vera replied with a tight smile. "I didn't expect to see you here. Visiting a sick friend?"
The way she emphasized "friend" made my skin crawl, bile rising in my throat. I started walking toward the exit, my heels clicking aggressively against the linoleum as I marched forward, determined to ignore her completely.
"I'll get the car," Allen murmured close to my ear. "Wait for me at the entrance—it's starting to rain."
I nodded gratefully as he headed toward the parking garage. Standing near the glass doors of the hospital entrance, I watched fat raindrops begin to splatter against the pavement. The weather matched my mood—dark and turbulent. My body felt heavy with exhaustion, and my head throbbed where Mrs. Green's cup had struck me.
"You'll catch a cold standing there."
I stiffened at Vera's voice directly behind me, my shoulders instantly rising toward my ears. I hadn't heard her approach.
"Here," she said, extending a sleek black umbrella toward me. "You look like you need it more than I do."
"No, thank you," I replied without turning, my voice flat and cold enough to freeze hell over.
"Suit yourself." She moved to stand beside me, opening the umbrella with a smooth motion. "My father always says it's the small things that can bring down even the strongest wolves. He caught silver poisoning from standing in the rain too long."
My ears perked up involuntarily, and I felt my pulse quicken.
"His condition was quite serious," Vera continued casually, as if discussing the weather. "Thankfully, we were able to get him treatment immediately. The hospital was very accommodating—had the medication ready almost as soon as we arrived."
Something cold and heavy settled in my stomach. I whirled around to look at her fully for the first time, my eyes narrowing as I searched her face. "When was this?" My voice came out as a hoarse whisper.
"Yestoday." Vera's eyes gleamed with something that looked like triumph. "Such a relief that the hospital had exactly what he needed on hand."
My mind raced back to Oliver's confrontation with Dr. Green, the nurse's whispered confession about someone powerful intervening, Campbell's evasive answers... My breathing became shallow and rapid, and I felt dizzy with the horrific realization.
"It was your father," I whispered, the pieces clicking into terrible place. "The patient who got my mother's medication was your father."
Vera examined her perfect manicure, her expression innocent. "I wouldn't know about that. All I know is that Daddy had a minor flare-up after getting caught in the rain, and the hospital provided excellent care."
"Minor flare-up?" My voice rose with incredulity as I took a step toward her, my hands balling into fists at my sides.
"Well," Vera sighed, examining her nails, "I suppose the hospital makes decisions based on who they think is more... valuable to society."
The calculated cruelty of her words made my blood run cold, then boil with rage. I could feel every muscle in my body tensing, ready to launch at her smug face.
"There was apparently some commotion," she continued, her voice light. "Some family member of another patient making a scene, threatening staff. Nearly assaulted a doctor right in the hospital. Can you imagine?" Her eyes slid to the bandage on my forehead. "Such uncivilized behavior."
My hands began to shake violently, and I dug my nails into my palms so hard I felt the skin break. She was talking about Oliver. She knew.
"People have different stations in life, Elsa," Vera said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Some of us are born to lead packs, and others..." She glanced at me with mock sympathy. "Well, I suppose we all have our place. It's just unfortunate when people don't accept their reality."
"Their reality?" I repeated, my voice trembling with barely contained fury. My vision blurred at the edges, turning red with rage.
"If your whole family lacks the status to receive proper medical care," Vera said with a shrug, "perhaps it's just meant to be. Human lives have their natural order."
"You heartless bitch—" I started, taking a threatening step forward, but was cut off by another voice.
"I'd choose my next words very carefully if I were you."
Sophia stood there, her silver hair damp from the rain, her eyes blazing with fury. I hadn't even noticed her approach.
Vera smiled thinly. "This is a private conversation."
"Not anymore," Sophia replied, stepping closer. "I heard enough to know exactly what kind of person you are."
"And what kind is that?" Vera challenged, her smile never wavering.
Sophia hissed. "The kind who thinks having money and status gives you the right to decide who lives and who dies."
"I never said—"
The crack of Sophia's palm against Vera's cheek echoed like a gunshot in the hospital entrance. Vera's head snapped back, her eyes wide with shock. She staggered dramatically, her legs buckling beneath her in an exaggerated display of injury.
"Holy shit," I whispered, my mouth dropping open in shock.
Before she could hit the ground, a familiar set of strong arms caught her from behind.
Drake.
My stomach plummeted to my feet. Goddamn it, of course he's here. His eyes burned gold with fury as he steadied Vera, who immediately collapsed against his chest with a whimper.
"She attacked me," Vera gasped, pressing her hand to her reddening cheek. "For no reason at all."
Drake's murderous gaze locked onto Sophia. "I could have you arrested right now."
"Go ahead," Sophia spat back, unintimidated. "And I'll tell everyone how your girlfriend was just bragging about how her daddy stole medication from Elsa's dying mother."
Drake's eyes flickered with something—surprise? confusion?—before hardening again. "You're making serious accusations without evidence."
"Am I?" Sophia challenged. "Why don't you ask your precious Vera what she was just saying? "
Drake looked down at Vera, who was now hiding her face against his chest. "Is this true?"
"She's twisting my words," Vera murmured, her voice muffled.
I stepped forward, my body vibrating with rage, fingers twitching at my sides. A strange calm settled over me despite the storm raging inside. "Drake," I said quietly, "did you divert my mother's medication to Vera's father?"
His expression remained impassive, but I knew him well enough to see the subtle tightening around his eyes—a tell he had whenever he was caught in something he couldn't easily deny.
"The hospital makes allocation decisions based on medical necessity," he replied evenly.
"Don't give me that corporate bullshit," I said, my voice still deadly quiet though I wanted to scream. "I want to know if you called the hospital. If you used your influence to move Vera's father to the front of the line, knowing full well that my mother would suffer as a result."
"Elsa," Drake warned, "you're upset and not thinking clearly."
"Say it," I interrupted, stepping closer until I could feel his breath on my face. "Say that you chose Vera's family over mine. Say that you decided her father's 'minor flare-up' was more important than my mother's life. Say it, you fucking coward!"
The rain was coming down harder now, soaking through my clothes, plastering my hair to my face, but I barely felt it. All I could feel was the ice crystallizing around my heart as I stared at the man I had given ten years of my life to. My entire body shook, partly from cold, mostly from rage.
"You're the reason my mother is dying," I whispered, the terrible truth of it settling into my bones. I slammed my palm against his chest, not caring who saw. "You're the reason Oliver might go to prison. You're the reason for all of this." My voice broke on the last word, tears streaming down my face, mixing with the rain. "You're her murderer."
Drake's expression darkened, his hand wrapping around my wrist. "That's enough, Elsa."