Chapter One — The Woman Who Woke Up
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the ceiling.
White tiles. Soft lights. A machine blinking steadily beside me.
Alive.
The word moved through me before pain did.
A nurse leaned over me. “Mrs. Whitmore? Can you hear me?”
I tried to speak, but my throat burned. I nodded instead.
Her hand found mine. “Surgery went well. You’re in recovery.”
A tear slid into my hairline.
Not from relief.
From memory.
Vanessa’s voice still echoed in my head.
Once she’s gone… liquidate the accounts… disappear before her lawyer smells smoke.
I turned my wrist slightly. The medical bracelet was still there.
The recorder was still hidden inside.
The nurse followed my eyes.
“Do you need something?”
I swallowed through the pain. “My lawyer.”
She hesitated. “Your son is outside.”
My heart tightened.
“No,” I rasped. “My lawyer. Eleanor Price. Now.”
The nurse’s expression changed. Not fear. Understanding.
“I’ll make the call.”
