Chapter 4
Extraction.
The word steadied me.
Eleanor Graves did not use dramatic language.
If she said extraction, she meant people were coming.
Gabriel sat beside my bed, head in his hands.
“I helped him hide Sabrina.”
I looked at him.
He lifted his face.
“I didn’t know about the attack. I swear.”
“But Leo?”
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
The answer hurt.
Not like the acid.
Deeper.
Cleaner.
“You knew he had a son.”
“Yes.”
“And you let me plan a wedding.”
“He told me you knew.”
I almost laughed.
“How convenient.”
Gabriel looked destroyed.
“I wanted to believe it.”
“People always do when the truth costs them something.”
He flinched.
Good.
The door opened again, but this time Eleanor Graves entered.
Gray suit.
Silver hair.
No wasted movement.
Behind her came a woman in scrubs I did not recognize.
“This is Dr. Maya Chen,” Eleanor said. “She answers to your trust, not Mr. Prescott.”
Maya checked my chart.
Her face tightened.
“Who approved this medication schedule?”
“Dr. Lawson,” Gabriel said.
Maya swore under her breath.
“What?”
She looked at Eleanor.
“These doses could slow healing and affect cognition.”
I felt cold.
“Could they make me seem confused?”
“Yes.”
Eleanor’s jaw hardened.
“Document everything.”
Maya nodded.
Then Eleanor leaned over me.
“Genevieve, I know you’re scared. But I need permission to activate your father’s protective provisions.”
“Do it.”
“All of them?”
I thought of Christian touching my bandages.
I thought of my lost babies.
I thought of him saying Leo’s name like my pain was an accounting problem.
“All of them.”
Eleanor opened her tablet.
Within minutes, Christian lost access to my medical decisions, my business accounts, my public relations team, my estate permissions, and every wedding contract tied to my name.
Then Eleanor looked at Gabriel.
“You will give a sworn statement.”
He nodded.
My phone buzzed on the table.
A message from Christian.
My love, don’t let strangers poison you against me.
Eleanor read it.
May you like
Then smiled.
“Too late.”
