Chapter 7 - The Papers That Erased Her Voice
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Harold asked Lauren to email the documents immediately.
Three minutes later, they arrived.
Medical power of attorney.
Residential authorization.
Competency certification.
Evelyn stared at them.
“That doctor has never examined me.”
The document bore the name Dr. Nathan Cole.
Dominic looked at Harold.
“You know him?”
“No.”
Marcella leaned against the table.
“Your mother has been forgetful.”
Evelyn’s chin lifted.
“So you bought yourself a doctor?”
Marcella smiled.
“You’re proving my point.”
Dominic didn’t react.
That frightened Marcella more than anger would have.
He looked at Thomas.
“Find Cole.”
Thomas hesitated.
“I can make calls.”
“Do it.”
Marcella gave a mocking laugh.
“Your intimidation routine won’t change a medical finding.”
Dominic ignored her.
Instead, he called Lauren back and placed the phone on speaker.
“My mother is standing beside me. She is refusing admission.”
Lauren’s voice became careful.
“Then we won’t admit her voluntarily.”
Marcella’s eyes flashed.
Dominic noticed.
“And if someone brings her there?”
“We would require lawful authority.”
“What you have is being disputed.”
“I understand.”
Harold leaned toward the phone.
“This is Harold Mercer, counsel for Evelyn Vercetti. Please mark every authorization as contested.”
“Immediately.”
Marcella pushed away from the table.
“You’re all performing for her.”
Evelyn turned.
“No, Marcella. You were performing.”
Silence.
“You spent months telling people I was confused.”
Marcella said nothing.
“You moved meetings.”
Evelyn’s voice grew stronger.
“You replaced staff members who knew me.”
Still nothing.
“You told Dominic I was tired.”
Marcella’s lips tightened.
“And tonight, you wanted forty people to watch me leave this house so tomorrow you could say I left willingly.”
A murmur passed through the room.
Marcella snapped.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
Evelyn met her eyes.
“I know exactly what you were trying to do.”
Dominic stepped beside his mother.
“Where’s the key?”
Marcella laughed.
“You’re running out of time.”
Then Thomas returned.
His face was grim.
“I found Dr. Cole.”
“Where?”
“He’s downstairs.”
Everyone looked at him.
Thomas continued.
“He came to the estate tonight.”
Marcella’s confidence vanished.
Dominic’s voice dropped.
“Why?”
Thomas looked directly at her.
“Because Marcella hired him as a guest.”
A few minutes later, Nathan Cole entered the banquet hall.
He was pale.
Sweating.
He looked toward Marcella.
She looked away.
Dominic placed the competency certificate in front of him.
“You signed this?”
Cole swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Did you examine my mother?”
Silence.
Dominic repeated the question.
Cole looked at Evelyn.
Then at Harold.
Finally, he whispered—
“No.”
The room erupted.
Marcella shouted, “He’s lying!”
Cole flinched.
“I was paid to review records.”
“What records?” Harold demanded.
Cole’s face collapsed.
“Records Marcella gave me.”
Dominic stared at him.
“Are they real?”
Cole hesitated.
Then he said the sentence that destroyed Marcella’s last calm expression.
“I don’t know.”
May you like
👉 The false competency papers were beginning to fall apart, but the doctor’s next admission would reveal that Marcella had help from someone inside Dominic’s own house.
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