Chapter 3

3: 3

The doctor finished reading the endoscopy report, and his face went grim.

"The ulcer is already severe. You should be admitted for observation."

I nodded, but declined the suggestion of admission right then.

Because tomorrow was the day of my father's cremation, and I had to go home first, to get the bespoke suit he'd loved most while he was alive.

It was the outfit he'd set aside for himself. He said he'd lived a decent, dignified life, and he wanted to leave clean too.

When I dragged my numb legs up and pushed open the door, the sight in front of me froze me where I stood.

The living room, once spotless, where even the sofa cushions had to be lined up with a ruler, was now strung with colored balloons.

Several of the young doctors from Lucretia's department were there in mud-soaked shoes, tramping across the wool carpet, eating and drinking and laughing.

And Lucretia, who had a severe obsession with cleanliness and never let anyone break the household's hygiene rules, was setting out desserts on the table with her own hands, letting all of it happen.

I looked at Lucretia.

"What are you doing?"

One of the young doctors explained with a smile.

"Julian's been in a bad mood these past few days. Director James asked everyone over to cheer him up."

Lucretia gave me a flat glance.

"I'm just letting him relax. There's no need for you to make a fuss."

I looked at the mess all over the floor, and it suddenly struck me as absurd.

When my father's life had hung by a thread, she wouldn't spare him half an hour.

Julian was only in a bad mood, and she could throw out every one of her own rules and fill the house with people just to make him happy.

I didn't ask anything more, just walked straight toward the second bedroom where my father had been staying.

The moment I pushed the door open, my blood shot straight to my head.

Julian was standing in front of the full-length mirror, holding my father's bespoke suit up against himself.

There were scissors in his hand, and a long cut had already been sliced open along the lapel.

Hearing the door, he turned to look at me, without a trace of guilt on his face.

"Connor, good timing. This suit is way too dated. I was just about to take it apart and redo it."

"Lucretia said I could pick whatever I wanted from in here."

Whatever was holding me together snapped in that instant.

"Take it off!"

I rushed over, snatched the scissors from his hand, and yanked him away from the mirror.

Julian screamed and fell, and the scissors dragged a deeper tear through the suit.

Lucretia came running at the sound, her face darkening at once.

"Connor, what are you throwing a fit about now?"

"You told him to touch my father's things?"

She reached out to shield Julian, her voice thick with impatience.

"It's just a piece of clothing. Julian likes it, so let him have it."

I reached out to grab it back, but Lucretia clamped down on my wrist and shoved me away hard.

"Hurting someone over something this small. Is it really worth it?"

I stumbled into the solid wood corner of the bed, and a searing pain tore through my stomach.

Lucretia's hand shot out on instinct, but Julian clutched his chest and leaned against her shoulder, wincing.

"Lucretia, I can't breathe…"

She pulled back the hand she'd started reaching toward me and took hold of him instead.

"The clothes are ruined, I'll buy you ten more."

"But if anything happens to Julian, you'll bear the consequences."

The door slammed shut.

My stomach heaved violently, and I bent over and vomited a large mouthful of blood, the crimson soaking fast into the wooden floor.

I held the ruined suit tight against me.

Then I dug out my phone and dialed Lawyer Weiss's number.

"Lawyer Weiss, the divorce and the medical liability claim, start them both."

"I'll send you the evidence right away."

After hanging up, I dialed emergency services.