“What were you giving my son?”
She smiled thinly. “What Dr. Bennett prescribed.”
“I had it tested. It’s poison.”
Her expression hardened. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“Why?” Daniel demanded. “Why hurt him?”
Her composure cracked. “Because he reminds me of her. Every day. Emma had everything—you, the life, the future. I wanted my turn.”
“You killed her,” Daniel whispered.
“She was in the way,” Olivia said flatly.
She reached for a knife, but Daniel grabbed her wrist, sending it clattering to the floor. Lucas cried out, and neighbors called the police.
Olivia confessed to everything—bribing a mechanic, manipulating a doctor, keeping Lucas weak so Daniel would never leave her.
Weeks later, Lucas’s treatment changed completely. Physical therapy resumed, along with the massage techniques Maya had shown them.
Daniel searched everywhere for the girl, but she was gone.
Slowly, Lucas grew stronger. One afternoon, he took two shaky steps toward his father.
“You did it,” Daniel whispered.
Lucas smiled. “Maya said I could.”
Daniel looked toward the park beyond the window, knowing she wouldn’t be there—but grateful she had been.
For the first time in three years, Daniel Moore finally felt at peace.
