Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN HE MARRIED BECAME HIS GREATEST RISK
Casper read the document three times.
The signature resembled his own, but he had never authorized the request.
"This is a forgery," he said.
The surgeon looked uneasy.
"We need written confirmation before we proceed. The hospital cannot ignore a document that appears to come from the patient's legal representative."
"Then verify it with my attorneys."
"We've already attempted to contact the office listed on the form. The number is disconnected."
Willow stood beside the bed, her face pale with fury.
"Someone is trying to stop my sister from getting surgery."
Casper turned toward her.
"Yes."
"And you don't know who."
"No."
She looked at him as if she wanted to believe him but no longer knew how.
"Then find out."
He did not defend himself.
He called his security team and ordered them to identify everyone who had accessed Winnie's medical records.
Within an hour, the investigation uncovered a disturbing detail.
The forged document had been submitted using a secure digital certificate issued to a company owned by August Falcone.
Casper stared at the report.
His uncle had access to the same legal and financial infrastructure used by the family for decades.
He could manufacture documents that appeared authentic.
He could redirect funds.
And he had a reason to keep Winnie from undergoing surgery.
Casper found August in the old reading room.
The older man sat beside the window with his silver-headed cane resting against the chair.
"You canceled a child's surgery," Casper said.
August did not look up.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Someone used your company to submit a forged medical authorization."
"Then investigate the company."
"I am."
August finally raised his eyes.
"You've become reckless. You married a servant, brought your mother back into this house, and allowed a private family matter to become a public spectacle."
Casper stepped closer.
"Why are you afraid of that child?"
For the first time, August's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
"She is not an ordinary child."
"She's twelve."
"Age has nothing to do with it."
Casper's voice turned cold.
"What does she know?"
August gripped his cane.
"Ask your wife what her mother did before she died."
Casper left without another word.
At the hospital, Willow sat beside Winnie while the girl drew pictures on a notebook.
"Are you scared?" Winnie asked.
Willow smiled weakly.
"A little."
"Me too."
Winnie set down her pencil.
"But if I get better, I'm going to learn to swim. And I'm going to run in the park. And I'm going to buy you a dress that doesn't smell like cleaning chemicals."
Willow's throat tightened.
"You can buy me whatever you want."
"No. I'm going to buy you a whole store."
They laughed together.
Then Winnie grew serious.
"Willow, I need to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"An old woman visited me yesterday."
Willow's smile disappeared.
"What woman?"
"She said she knew Mom."
"What did she look like?"
"Gray hair. Nice coat. She brought me a little wooden box."
Winnie reached beneath her pillow and produced a small object wrapped in tissue paper.
Inside was a brass key.
Willow stared at it.
It was identical to the one Isabella had given Casper.
"Where did she say she got this?"
"She said Mom wanted me to have it when I was old enough."
Willow's hands began to shake.
"Did she tell you her name?"
Winnie nodded.
"Eleanor."
The name of their dead mother.
Willow looked toward the door.
Casper was speaking to a security officer in the corridor.
She rushed outside and showed him the key.
"Someone came here pretending to know my mother."
Casper examined it.
"Did the hospital see her?"
"I don't know."
He turned to the officer.
"Get the visitor logs. Every camera. Every person who entered this floor."
The officer hurried away.
Casper took Willow's hand.
"We'll find her."
Willow pulled away.
"How can you promise that? Your uncle controls half the people we're asking to investigate him."
Casper absorbed the accusation.
"You're right."
She looked at him, surprised.
"I should have told you about August's company earlier," he continued. "I was afraid you'd think I was protecting him."
"Are you?"
"No."
He held her gaze.
"I won't ask you to trust me because I married you. I'll earn it."
Willow's anger did not disappear.
But for the first time, she believed he understood why she was angry.
That evening, Marlon regained consciousness.
Casper visited him privately.
Marlon looked exhausted.
"I need to tell you something about the photograph," he said.
"Which photograph?"
"The one showing me with Cordelia. It was real, but the meeting wasn't what you think."
"Then explain."
Marlon swallowed.
"Cordelia approached me first. She claimed August was planning to eliminate you after the wedding. She offered evidence."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because the evidence included your mother's name. I needed to know whether she was alive before I exposed it."
Casper went still.
"You knew she might be alive?"
"I suspected it."
"How long?"
"Six months."
Casper stared at him.
"Six months."
Marlon lowered his eyes.
"I was trying to protect you."
"You had no right to decide what I could know."
"I know."
The admission was almost unbearable.
Casper turned toward the door.
Then Marlon spoke again.
"There's one more thing. Cordelia wasn't working for the Holloways alone."
"Who else?"
Marlon looked directly at him.
"Your uncle gave her the original port schedules. But she was supposed to obtain something else during the wedding."
"What?"
"The ledger your father hid before he died."
Casper felt the brass key inside his pocket.
"The ledger is in a safe deposit box."
Marlon shook his head.
"That's only a copy."
Casper froze.
"What?"
"The original was never in the bank."
Marlon reached beneath his pillow and produced a folded note.
"Your father left this for you. I found it in the lining of my coat after the shooting."
Casper opened it.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
If you are reading this, August has won. Protect the girl. She carries the proof.
Casper stared at the words.
Then he looked toward the hospital room where Winnie was sleeping.
May you like
For the first time, he understood that the child everyone wanted to keep alive might be the same person they had spent years trying to silence.
And if August discovered that Casper had finally understood the truth, the wedding would become the least dangerous thing that had happened to them.
