PART 2 — THE TRUTH COULD NO LONGER BE HIDDEN
Arthur stared at my hospital badge.
For the first time since I had known him, he looked genuinely uncertain.
“Medical Director?” he repeated.
I didn’t answer.
My attention remained on Lucas.
Arthur took a step toward the bed.
“Evelyn, I didn’t know—”
“You didn’t know what?”
He stopped.
“That he was my patient?”
His eyes moved toward Lucas.
“I thought he was exaggerating.”
My hands tightened into fists.
“He is nine years old.”
Arthur swallowed.
“I was told he stole something.”
“And because of a watch, you threw a nine-year-old child into freezing rain?”
“He lied to me!”
Lucas suddenly opened his eyes.
“I didn’t.”
Arthur looked at him.
For a second, I saw something flicker across his face.
Not anger.
Doubt.
Then Officer Torres stepped closer.
“Mr. Vance, I need you to understand that your grandson was found outside in dangerous weather conditions. We’re investigating how he ended up there.”
Arthur straightened.
“This is a family matter.”
“No,” I said.
“It stopped being a family matter when you put my son in danger.”
Arthur looked at me.
“You’re making this bigger than it needs to be.”
I stared at him.
“Your grandson could have died.”
The room fell silent.
Then Lucas whispered:
“Mom…”
I leaned closer.
“What is it, sweetheart?”
He looked toward Arthur.
“Mason knows I didn’t steal it.”
Arthur’s expression changed.
“What did you say?”
Lucas swallowed.
“Mason put the watch in my backpack.”
I looked at Officer Torres.
“Why would he do that?”
Lucas hesitated.
“Because I wouldn’t let him take Grandpa’s old watch.”
Arthur froze.
“What old watch?”
Lucas looked at him.
“The one from your study.”
Arthur’s face went pale.
“What are you talking about?”
Lucas began crying again.
“Mason took it from your desk last week. I saw him.”
Arthur took a step backward.
“No.”
Lucas nodded.
“He said it was worth a lot of money.”
I looked at Arthur.
“Did you ever report that watch missing?”
He didn’t answer.
Officer Torres immediately noticed.
“Mr. Vance?”
Arthur rubbed his forehead.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I thought I had misplaced it.”
Lucas spoke again.
“Mason told me if I told anyone, he’d make sure Grandpa hated me.”
Arthur slowly turned toward the door.
“My grandson…”
He stopped.
I could see something changing inside him.
But I wasn’t ready to forgive him.
Not yet.
A nurse entered the room.
“Doctor Vance, his temperature is improving, but his hands need to be monitored closely. We’re also ordering additional tests because of the prolonged exposure.”
I nodded.
“Thank you.”
The nurse left.
Arthur remained standing near the doorway.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
It was his wife.
He answered.
“What?”
A woman’s frightened voice came through loudly enough for me to hear.
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