Chapter 6 - The Doctor Who Never Saw Maria

Dr. Elias Grant arrived just before midnight.

He was angry.

Not frightened.

That changed after Matteo showed him the petition.

Grant read the first page.

Then the second.

Then his own signature.

“I did not sign this.”

Carlo said, “Careful.”

Grant looked at him.

“I’m being very careful.”

Luca sat behind the desk.

“Did you ever evaluate my mother?”

“No.”

“Did anyone ask you to?”

Grant hesitated.

Belini watched him too closely.

Luca noticed.

“Doctor.”

Grant exhaled.

“Three weeks ago, Ms. Vescari asked general questions about age-related cognitive decline.”

Belini shook her head.

“As part of planning for Maria’s care.”

Grant ignored her.

“She wanted to know what symptoms courts considered significant.”

Emma felt the pattern tighten.

Confusion.

Medication mistakes.

Balance problems.

Exactly what the petition claimed.

Grant continued.

“I told her I would not discuss a patient I had never examined.”

“Did Carlo contact you?” Luca asked.

Grant looked at Carlo.

“Once.”

Carlo’s jaw hardened.

“For what?”

“He asked whether a temporary emergency evaluation could delay a board vote.”

Maria laughed.

A single humorless sound.

“So that was the point.”

Carlo said, “We were protecting the company.”

“From me?”

“From a reckless decision.”

Maria stood.

“I was voting no.”

“Exactly.”

Luca raised a hand.

The argument stopped.

“Who forged the signature?”

Grant looked down at the petition.

“I don’t know.”

Emma leaned forward.

“There’s something wrong with the date.”

Everyone looked at her.

The petition listed symptoms from two nights earlier.

Emma remembered Maria’s words.

“My hands have opinions of their own lately.”

The tremor was real.

The confusion was not.

“What?” Luca asked.

Emma pointed.

“It says Maria became disoriented after taking the wrong evening medication two nights ago.”

Grant nodded slowly.

“That would support the filing.”

Emma looked at Maria.

“But her evening medication was stopped three days ago.”

Maria understood.

“So whoever wrote this knew the schedule changed.”

Sofia closed her eyes.

Luca turned toward her.

“Sofia.”

She began crying.

“I didn’t forge it.”

“What did you do?”

“I sent Belini the updated medication sheet.”

Belini cursed softly.

Sofia continued.

“She said she needed it for tomorrow’s meeting.”

Luca looked at Belini.

“You had the schedule.”

“I was helping your mother.”

“You used it to build a story.”

Belini said nothing.

Emma looked at the petition again.

One line bothered her.

Witness to recent confusion: Marco Bellini.

She frowned.

“Marco?”

The head waiter had the same first name.

No.

Different surname.

Bellini.

Not Bellarosa’s Marco.

Belini noticed Emma reading.

Too late.

Luca saw her reaction.

“Who is Marco Bellini?”

Belini’s face went still.

Carlo looked away.

Maria whispered, “Her brother.”

Luca stared.

“Your brother signed as a witness?”

Belini said nothing.

Matteo checked the page.

Then his phone.

“Marco Bellini entered the country four days ago.”

“Where is he?”

Matteo’s expression hardened.

“We don’t know.”

Carlo suddenly stood.

“This is enough.”

Matteo blocked him.

Luca did not move.

“No. It isn’t.”

Emma looked toward Belini.

“What was supposed to happen after Maria appeared confused?”

Belini stared back.

Emma answered herself.

“The petition gets filed.”

Luca’s eyes narrowed.

“The vote is delayed.”

Maria shook her head.

“No.”

Everyone turned.

“If I am ruled temporarily incapable, my voting rights do not disappear.”

Carlo went pale.

Maria looked directly at him.

“They transfer.”

Luca understood.

“To whom?”

Maria’s answer came quietly.

“Not Carlo.”

Belini’s face changed.

That was new.

Real surprise.

Maria continued.

“My husband created a second safeguard.”

Carlo whispered, “You never told me.”

“No.”

Luca leaned forward.

“Who gets the vote?”

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Maria looked at Emma.

And for the first time that night, Emma became afraid of the answer.