Arthur didn’t answer.
Because there was no answer that could undo what had just been revealed.
The boy finally spoke again.
“That land,” he said slowly, “was my father’s.”
A ripple of realization passed through the room.
Dr. Hale looked back at the document.
“Daniel Carter…” he repeated.
The boy nodded once.
“He wasn’t unfit,” the boy said. “He was injured. And you used that.”
Arthur’s hands trembled.
“You don’t understand—”
“I understand everything,” the boy cut in, his voice still calm, but sharper now. “You kept him sedated. You signed as both doctor and witness. And then you took everything.”
Dr. Grant stepped back as if burned.
“That’s illegal,” she whispered.
Arthur let out a dry laugh.
“Illegal?” he said bitterly. “Do you have any idea how many things are ‘illegal’ until someone powerful signs them into existence?”
But even as he spoke, his confidence was collapsing.
Because the truth was no longer hidden.
It was sitting in the open.
In a hospital room.
Surrounded by witnesses.
“And the cast?” Dr. Hale asked quietly.
Arthur closed his eyes.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then—
“I needed time,” he admitted.
The words came out heavy.
“I needed the delay. The sympathy. The control.”