A thought slammed into me out of nowhere.
Why was Zachery so protective of Gertrude? Was it really just about saving face and his career?
Then he leaned in close, his voice low and pleading. "Ellie, the university needs a group photo for their records. Just bear with it one more time, okay? I know you're upset. Don't worry, I'll—"
I cut him off before he could finish. "Sure."
Every last shred of emotion had drained out of me. All I wanted now was the truth about what Zachery and Gertrude really were to each other.
He exhaled in relief. "See? My wife's always looking out for me."
During the photo, Gertrude deliberately pressed herself close to Zachery. She even hooked her pinky around his when she thought no one was looking. The two of them, getting their thrill right under my nose, convinced I wouldn't notice.
But I said nothing.
Instead, I urged Zachery to see them out. "I can't get out of bed. Go walk them downstairs, would you?"
A flicker of hidden delight crossed his eyes.
I didn't miss it.
It stung like a needle through my chest.
Once they left, I called over the young nursing aide. I paid her to follow Zachery and the others.
It didn't take long. She sent me a video.
The footage showed a quiet corner on the ground floor of the hospital. Gertrude threw herself into Zachery's arms, her voice thick with petulance.
"Zachery, we had a deal. You were supposed to hit that old hag with the car, then drug her so she'd never wake up. Now she's conscious and making our lives miserable. Are you going soft on me?"
Zachery stroked her hair, soothing her. "Relax. Why would I go soft? I've been slipping something into her meal trays every day. Tomorrow's the last dose. Once she's out for good, we can finally be together in the open. And every cent she has will be ours."
They stood there wrapped around each other, laying out their vicious plan as casually as a dinner reservation. Then Gertrude pulled a hotel keycard from her pocket and pressed it into his palm. "I'll be waiting at the hotel tonight. Consider it an early celebration."
I couldn't watch any more.
My fists clenched so tight my nails bit into my palms.
They were monsters. Not only had they been carrying on behind my back, they were actively trying to kill me. And I had walked through every single day without suspecting a thing.
The aide's message came through right after: Ma'am, I got everything on camera. Should I call the police?
I typed back slowly: No. Letting them rot in prison would be too easy.
I was going to destroy them. Ruin everything they had. Make them pay in ways a jail cell never could.
I picked up the phone and dialed my private security team. "Get to my brother's rehabilitation center immediately. Replace the current caregiver and make sure she doesn't get anywhere near him again."
I paused, then added, "Twenty-four-hour protection, around the clock. No one gets access to my brother without my explicit approval."
I had been so blind, trusting Zachery with the only family I had left.
Now that I thought about it, those times my brother had been "accidentally" hurt at the center—there was no way those were coincidences.
Never again. I would never let anyone lay a hand on me or the people I loved.
A long time passed before Zachery finally came back.
There was a smear of lipstick on his jaw. He hadn't even noticed.
"Ellie, why did you switch out your brother's caregiver? You really don't trust me?"
My expression didn't waver. "Weren't you the one who threatened to make something happen to my brother? Can you blame me for being cautious?"
Irritation twisted across his face.
But he reined it in just as quickly, forcing his features smooth. "Forget it. This is all my fault. I pushed you to this."
