Chapter 4: The Doctor Who Changed His Story
Chapter 4: The Doctor Who Changed His Story
The envelope contained bank statements...
Corporate transfers...
Property deeds...
And one handwritten note in Claire's elegant script.
If anything happens to me, don't believe the official story.
Ethan read it twice.
Then three times.
His hands refused to stop shaking.
A funeral attendant quietly approached.
"Mr. Carter..."
"What?"
"The physician who signed Mrs. Carter's death certificate has arrived."
Everyone turned.
Dr. Leonard Hayes entered the memorial hall wearing a black suit instead of his white coat.
His face was pale.
He hadn't come to offer condolences.
He had come because he couldn't live with himself anymore.
"Ethan," he said quietly.
"We need to talk."
Margaret interrupted.
"This isn't the place."
"No," the doctor replied.
"It's exactly the place."
He looked directly at Ethan.
"I changed my report."
The room froze.
"What do you mean?"
"The original examination showed signs of physical stress inconsistent with a natural medical emergency."
Margaret whispered, "Don't."
The doctor continued anyway.
"I was instructed to remove those findings."
"Instructed by who?"
Dr. Hayes slowly looked toward Margaret.
"I received a call before filing the final report."
Ethan's eyes darkened.
"My mother?"
"I was told this family couldn't survive another scandal."
Margaret's voice shook.
"I only wanted to protect everyone."
May you like
Ethan answered without emotion.
"You protected yourself."
