Chapter 7

The hospital corridor was quiet, smelling of antiseptic and floor wax. Keenan, flanked by Detective Fletcher and a bruised Felix, marched toward the administrative offices. Their footsteps echoed, loud and intrusive.

Fletcher flashed his badge at the head nurse. "We need to see all medical records for Aracely Walter. And any surgical logs from today."

The nurse's face tightened. "Due to HIPAA regulations, I can't-"

"I'm her emergency contact!" Felix burst out, slamming his hand on the counter. "She was scheduled for a craniotomy today! You have to tell us what happened!"

Craniotomy. The word was a physical blow. Keenan shoved Felix aside, his face contorted with a desperate, furious denial.

"Shut up! She had migraines! She wouldn't be having that kind of surgery!" he roared, his voice cracking.

Aracely's soul watched him, a hollow ache spreading through her. He was still trying to believe the lie. Because believing the truth-that he had abandoned her when she was dying-was too much to bear.

Fletcher watched Keenan's outburst with a cool, appraising eye.

Just then, a figure in a white coat appeared at the end of the hall. Cheyenne. She walked toward them, her expression a perfect blend of concern and authority.

She went straight to Keenan's side, taking his arm in a proprietary way. "Keenan, darling, what's going on?"

Felix stared at her. "You're... Dr. Walter. Her sister."

Cheyenne gave him a brief, dismissive nod before turning her full attention to the detective. "I'm Aracely's sister and her primary physician. How can I help you, Detective?"

"We need her medical file," Fletcher said, his tone brooking no argument.

Cheyenne let out a long, weary sigh, as if dealing with a tiresome inconvenience. "This whole thing is just a terrible misunderstanding."

Keenan's eyes bored into her, a silent, desperate warning. Don't you dare.

She squeezed his hand reassuringly. "Don't worry. I'll clear this up."

"Misunderstanding?" Felix exploded. "You told me the surgery was life-or-death!"

Cheyenne's eyes flashed with annoyance before she smoothed her features back into a mask of sorrowful patience. "Mr. Riddle, I said the situation was serious. My sister has been... unwell. She has a history of resisting treatment."

Lies. All of it, a seamless river of lies. Aracely's soul thrashed in silent rage.

"Enough," Fletcher said, his patience wearing thin. "I want to see the raw data in the EMR system. Now."

Cheyenne nodded graciously. "Of course. My office is just this way. I'll pull up her file on my terminal." She led them down the hall, her pace calm and measured, a portrait of professional competence.

Inside her pristine office, she sat at her desk and logged into the hospital's system. The loading icon spun on the screen for a moment that felt like an eternity.

Keenan stared at it, his jaw clenched, his hands balled into fists. He was praying he was right. Praying she was a liar.

Felix was praying for the opposite. Praying for proof that would vindicate her.

The system loaded. Cheyenne's mouse hovered, then clicked. Aracely Walter.

The patient file opened. The official diagnosis appeared on the screen.

Felix's face crumpled in disbelief.

Keenan stared, and a wild, triumphant, and deeply pained look spread across his face.

Aracely floated over them, looked at the screen, and felt the last vestiges of her human heart turn to dust.