Chapter 2

Angelo stood in the sterile hallway outside the imaging center. He stared through the thick glass window at the massive MRI machine swallowing Elba. He reached up and yanked his silk tie loose, the fabric slipping through his fingers.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out.

Boss, the security footage for that specific hour is missing. A reported network failure.

Angelo stared at the screen. The skin around his eyes tightened. A cold, heavy knot formed in his gut. The suspicion regarding Georgina took root, growing rapidly into a dark certainty.

The heavy metal door opened. The attending physician walked out, wiping sweat from his forehead with a tissue. "Mr. Potter, her brain and nervous system are completely normal. No physical damage."

Angelo snatched the medical report from the doctor's hand. He flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning the data. Nothing. She was physically fine.

A nurse wheeled Elba out into the hallway. Angelo stepped behind the wheelchair. He looked at the medical staff.

"Get out," Angelo said.

The doctor and nurses scattered instantly.

Angelo pushed the wheelchair back to the VIP room. He closed the door until it clicked shut. The silence in the room was suffocating.

He walked to the side of the bed. He pulled up a heavy chair and sat down, crossing his long legs. He rested his elbows on the armrests, staring at her.

"Elba," Angelo said, his voice low and probing. "Did you mention something about the company's financial statements earlier?"

Elba's heart skipped a beat. She forced a blank, innocent look onto her face and shook her head slowly.

How does he know? her mind raced. Did I accidentally say it out loud? Impossible. My throat hurts too much to speak!

Angelo's lips twitched. A microscopic, cold smile touched the corners of his mouth. He wasn't hallucinating.

He leaned forward, dropping his voice lower. "Georgina is coming to see you this afternoon. You two had better make peace."

Elba shrank back into the pillows, pulling the white blanket up to her chin. Her eyes darted away from him.

Make peace my ass! Elba cursed internally. That manipulative bitch is just coming to check if I'm dead! She still has that forged paternity test hidden in her designer bag!

Angelo flinched. The words forged paternity test hit him like a physical blow to the chest.

He stood up so fast the chair scraped loudly against the floor. He walked to the window, turning his back to Elba. He took a deep, ragged breath, forcing his lungs to expand.

Elba watched his broad back.

My brother is so blind, she thought. Georgina is selling him out, and he's helping her count the cash. Poor Potter family.

Angelo spun around. He closed the distance to the bed in three heavy steps. The disgust that usually filled his eyes when he looked at her was gone, replaced by a dark, intense focus.

He reached out. His large hand grabbed the edge of her blanket. He tuck it roughly, but securely, around her shoulders.

Elba froze. Her muscles locked up. She stared at him like a cornered rabbit.

Angelo cleared his throat. "Georgina isn't coming today," he said stiffly. "I told her to stay home and reflect on her actions."

Elba's eyes widened. She blinked twice.

Did the sun rise in the west? she cheered in her mind. The tyrant brother isn't helping the white lotus bully me?

Angelo's jaw clenched at the word tyrant. He forced himself to breathe out slowly.

He turned to the bedside table. He picked up the plastic water pitcher and poured a glass. He tested the temperature against his wrist, then held it out to her lips.

Elba stared at the water, pressing her lips together.

Did he poison this? she wondered.

Angelo's fingers tightened around the glass. He shoved it into her hands. "Drink it. Stop staring at it like I'm trying to kill you."

Elba gripped the glass with both hands. She took a small, careful sip. The warm water coated her raw throat, easing the pain.

Angelo watched her swallo,His mind was made up, He wasn't letting her out of his sight, She was a walking vault of secrets, and he was going to extract every single one.