Elias POV
I had gone through Philip's medical report the other day, buried in the tests he had run in secret.
Why so many tests?
And why hide them?
He'd always been healthy. What changed?
I fastened my cufflinks, adjusted my tie, staring at myself in the mirror. Today, I had not planned to go to the company early. I was just about to grab my phone to call Richard when his name flashed on the screen.
"Good morning, sir," Richard began quickly, already sounding flustered.
I cut him off. "Shift my morning schedule. I'll be entering the company late."
He stalled. "Shift? Sir, your meeting with the Chicago client is by ten. And you have an interview with…"
"I don't think I need to repeat myself, Richard."
"I'm so sorry, sir. I'll hand—"
I ended the call before he finished his sentence and stepped out to the waiting car.
"To the hospital," I told my driver.
At the hospital, I was escorted to Dr. Dan, the family doctor who had run Philip's tests. He looked startled when I entered.
"Mr. Lawson, good morning. I wasn't expecting…"
"I'm here because of my brother," I said, closing the door behind me and taking a seat.
"My condolences," he murmured, closing the laptop in front of him.
"You should know if something was wrong with Philip before his death," I said. "He ran some tests. Was he sick?"
The doctor straightened. "He ran multiple tests over the last few months as you already know. Philip came in several times. He complained of certain… symptoms."
"What symptoms?"
"Fatigue. Nausea. Dizziness. Some irregularities in his blood count. Liver stress. He didn't want anything official yet, so we began with preliminary evaluations."
"And?" I pressed.
"He refused to continue." Dr. Dan sighed. "Whenever we scheduled further testing, he canceled. He insisted he didn't want the family concerned."
Silence stretched between us until he continued,
"Philip's death was due to his health. He delayed treating himself. Why come yourself to ask when the autopsy can be sent to you?"
My eyes lifted sharply. "Autopsy?"
"Yes," he said, standing to search a cabinet. My heartbeat quickened.
If he mentioned arsenic… it would confirm I wasn't wrong about Philip being murdered.
I had run a private autopsy after his death. Traces of arsenic were found in his system.
"Aha, got it." Dr. Dan turned back to me with a file. "We conducted an autopsy the morning he was rushed in."
He slid it across the table.
I opened immediately.
My face hardened.
It said heart attack.
Natural causes.
A lie.
My jaw clenched, but instead of ripping the file apart, I closed it and pushed it back. His hands shook when he took it.
"And there was no other thing found during the autopsy?"
"No other thing like what Mr. Lawson" he asked which I hesitated to answer.
"Thank you for the information," I said, standing.
He extended a hand. I shook it, noticing his palms were sweaty.
I left.
Back at the company, heading toward my office, I spotted Camille. Our eyes met.
"Elias," she greeted brightly.
"What brings you to the company, Mother?"
"Good morning, sir," Mr. Halter, one of the oldest executives, said politely.
"You know your mother is always welcome here," Camille said as if to correct me. "I wanted some information on how the anniversary preparations are going."
Halter added, "We were reviewing some ideas."
"We haven't had a board meeting on that," I cut in. "Why review what hasn't been decided by me?"
Camille immediately stepped in. "It isn't that we were making decisions without you. We only discussed some suggestions we wanted you to hear. And it's not wrong for Mr. Halter to contribute, he was your father's friend, one of the oldest member in the company."
I didn't care.
"So what suggestions?"
"We should sit," Camille said.
We walked to the open-air courtyard, quiet, glass-walled, with tall palms. They sat, and I joined them.
Halter leaned forward. "We should use the anniversary to highlight our strongest partnerships. Show the world that despite Philip's death, the Lawson legacy stands strong. Celebrating alliances, especially companies that helped stabilize us this quarter will send a powerful message."
"And which alliances are you thinking of?" I asked.
He didn't hesitate.
"Scott Enterprise, for one. They've been… instrumental."
I exhaled, and Camille added,
"We also suggested hosting it on the private island resort."
"The family's private island is a good option," I said, then looked at Halter. "We'll discuss Scott Enterprise at the board meeting."
"Anything else?" I asked.
Halter shook his head. "No."
I rose. "I have work upstairs."
Camille waved lightly. "Don't bury yourself too much, darling."
I ignored the fake concern I'd heard all my life.
On my way to the office, I passed the small private restroom outside the executive floor. The door was half-open.
Then I heard it.
Soft retching. Someone vomiting.
I slowed, frowned, and leaned toward the gap.
It was Mara.
Bent over the sink, gripping it like her knees might give out. Her breaths came sharp and shaky. Water ran as she rinsed her mouth.
She didn't see me.
I walked past
At least, that's what I intended.
But then, in a broken whisper meant for no one, she murmured:
"Oh my God… I hope I'm not pregnant with Elias's child."
I stopped.
Froze completely.
Air snagged in my throat.
She remembered the night we shared during Andrea's engagement party. She had always remembered.
I turned and she rushed out at the same moment.
Her gaze collided with mine.
Her lips parted.