Chapter 7 - Unraveling the Trust
The standoff in Room 418 was interrupted by the sudden, frantic ringing of Daniel's phone.
He stared at the screen. The caller ID read: ICU - Room 512.
With trembling hands, Daniel answered it. "Yes? This is Daniel... What? No, don't do that yet! I'm coming up!"
He hung up, his face pale and slick with sweat. He looked at Dr. Cole, then at Claire. "My mother... her blood pressure is crashing. They need to initiate emergency resuscitation, but the attending doctor wants to sign the DNR because of the brain-death declaration. If they stop the machines now..."
He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to. If Eleanor's heart stopped beating before the fraudulent birth certificate was legally finalized and filed with the state, the legal battle would become an absolute nightmare for him.
"I need that bracelet, Rachel," Daniel pleaded, his voice losing its anger, replaced by a desperate, pathetic whine. "Please. You don't understand. If we don't get this money, we lose everything. I’m deep in debt. The real estate firm is failing. Claire, think of our family! Think of Noah’s future!"
"Noah’s future will not be built on a lie, Daniel," Claire said coldly. "And it will not be built on the abuse of my daughter."
"She’s not even my blood!" Daniel shouted, losing his temper again. "Why do you care about her more than our son's inheritance?"
"Because she is my daughter," Claire said, tears finally spilling over her cheeks, but her voice was as hard as steel. "And because she has more integrity in her little finger than you have in your entire body. Get out of my room, Daniel. Get out before I have security throw you out."
Daniel looked at Dr. Cole, but the doctor was already backing away. Dr. Cole knew the ship was sinking, and he was looking for the nearest life raft.
"I had nothing to do with the trust, Daniel," Dr. Cole stammered, his voice trembling. "I was only trying to help a stressed father. I will restore the original birth time in the system immediately."
"You coward!" Daniel hissed.
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"Go, Dr. Cole," I said, pointing to the door. "Restore the record. And then go to the Chief of Staff's office and wait. Because they will be waiting for you."
Dr. Cole practically ran out of the room. Daniel stood alone, his empire crumbling around him, before he turned and bolted toward the elevators, desperately trying to reach the ICU to force the doctors to keep his mother’s corpse warm for a few more hours.
