Chapter 16 Suspicion
When the doctor told them to wait outside, Betty and Eugene had no choice but to listen.
They quietly exited the room.
The doctors began to move around with practiced ease, pulling out instruments, preparing for a routine checkup.
Zayden leaned in close to Quinn and whispered, “There are cameras. Don’t draw attention.”
She barely heard him. Her eyes were locked on the bed.
The man who used to be so strong–her grandfather–was now skin and bones. His lips were dry and slightly parted, his breathing labored, his eyes glassy and unfocused.
The sight was too much…
Quinn’s steps
wavered. She almost rushed over but forced herself to walk slowly, carefully, like nothing was out of the ordinary. She bent down to straighten the blanket and, in a blind spot of the camera, gently grasped his hand.
The familiar roughness of his palm settled into hers, bringing with it a warmth that softened three years of pain. But now, the hand that once held hers so firmly was nothing but bone.
She bit her lip hard. The ache in her chest rose like a tidal wave–regret, longing, guilt, all crashing over her at once.
“Grandpa…” she murmured, unable to hold it in. A single tear fell onto Norman’s cheek.
The warmth startled him. Slowly, the haze in his eyes began to clear, and when they finally focused, they reflected the blurry outline of her face.
He tried to speak, his mouth opening and closing. “Ah… ah..”
A tear rolled from the corner of his eye. His fingers twitched, trying to lift, trying to touch her face. But years of being bedridden had robbed him of the strength.
He had held on this long for her. Always for her. And now, seeing her here, it felt like a dream.
“Ah.. ch..
Norman clutched her hand tightly, as if trying to tell her something, but the words refused to form.
One of the doctors stepped in calmly, pulled back the sleeve of his free arm, and injected a sedative.
His struggle faded. The panic drained from his eyes. The doctor frowned.
“Strange he hasn’t had an episode like that in a long time. What triggered it?”
Quinn’s eyes were bloodshot with rage. She’d noticed something–his arms, his wrists, even the back of his hand–covered in puncture wounds…
Her grandfather, the man who built the Fairchild empire from nothing, was lying here like this?
How could they do this to their own family?
She was seconds from losing it. But a firm hand tapped her shoulder.
She turned to see Zayden giving her the slightest shake of his head, eyes filled with quiet warning.
Quinn swallowed her fury.
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Chapter 16 Suspicion
Finisher
On the drive back, she sat in the passenger seat sundir Hermekkepreplaying the image of her grandfather’s frail body and pleading eyes.
She didn’t cry. She didn’t scream. She sat with cerie calin lardandi fodáte Fichiedigu
Zavien kept glancing over, more worried with every minute. Iersiltcevasta
You okay?” he asked.
When Zayden had visited before, Norman had looked Ime. Quiet yes—but staböce
Today, everything had changed. His body, his mind, even the atmosphere in thatopoen
Quinn didn’t answer his question “How did you get us in?”
I gave a little incentive to two people. That’s all.”
“Can you take the to them?” Her voice was sharp now, hopeful
Zayden nodded. He understood what she wanted.
But when they got to the address Finn had sent the place was empty.
They must’ve known we’d come. They ran
Quinn stepped inside the small apartment and slowly walked through the clutter.
The fact that they ran only proves they’re hiding something.”
Zayden looked at her differently now. She was sharper. Stronger. Prison hadn’t broken her–it had forged her
He let out a quiet breath. “See anything?”
She picked up a small shard of glass from the floor, held it to her nose, and sniffed.
This smell it’s familiar.
There wasn’t much rise to find, so they headed back
Back at the apartment. Sally sat across from the two of them, nervously glancing from Zayden to the window like she needed to confirm it wasn’t haunted
Eventually, she reached for the shard Quinn had brought back and took a whiff
I knew it. That’s from my hometown. It’s a local flower–people buy it for medicine and perfume.
Quinn’s eyes lit up. A smile broke through her composure. “Sally, you’re a lifesaver.”
Sally waved it off. “It’s nothing. So, what’s your plan?”
Quinn had a hunch. That scent–faint but present–had been in her grandfather’s room. Hidden beneath the sharp tang of antiseptic. If she could trace it, she could trace the men who’d run
But she couldn’t confront the doctors directly. That would only scare them off. The two who fled were her best lead.
I’m not terring thi
Chapter 16 Suspicion
He didn’t get a chance to ask who
Sally leaned in curiously. “Who?”
But Quinn didn’t answer. Not with Zayden sitting right there.
Finished
The next morning, she went straight to Stanley’s office.
“Me Stanley blinked. “You want me?”
He immediately waved his hands. “Look, Ms. Fairchild, I technically work for your family, so I should say yes, but—” He gestured at the towering stack of files on his desk. “I’ve got too much on my plate.”
Quinn wasn’t bothered. She smiled sweetly. “I just need you to deliver a letter.”
“Why not mail it?”
She lifted her brows. “Because Sally is going on a trip in three days–to pick up raw materials.”
That shut him up fast. To Stanley, this news was like water in a desert.
Ever since it had leaked that he and Sally were childhood friends, she’d cut him off completely. He hadn’t heard from her
since.
Quinn turned like she was ready to walk. “But hey, if this is too much trouble, I’ll ask someone else.”
“Hey, hey dont be like that!” Stanley jumped to his feet, blocking her path. “I’ll do it! You can count on me. That letter will get there, guaranteed.”
What he didn’t know was that Quinn had just casually sold Sally’s travel schedule.
When Sally found out, she wasn’t even mad. Just worried.
“Quinny, you really trust him with this? What if he reads it?”
“He’s still part of the Fairchild family.”
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