Chapter 5 - Madison’s Last Secret
Two weeks later, Noah walked out of Harborview holding my hand.
The nurses applauded.
Dr. Hale crouched in front of him.
“What are you going to do first?”
“Pancakes.”
Everyone laughed.
“And then?”
Noah thought seriously.
“Video games.”
“Excellent recovery plan.”
For a moment, life felt normal.
Then I saw Madison standing outside.
She wore sunglasses and a long gray coat.
I immediately moved Noah behind me.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I need five minutes.”
“You've already taken enough from my son.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I know.”
“No, you don't.”
“Claire, Richard lied to me too.”
“That doesn't make you innocent.”
“I know that.”
She handed me an envelope.
“What is this?”
“Something Richard didn't know I kept.”
Inside were printed emails.
Richard had been communicating with private clients under fake company accounts.
But one email was different.
It was dated six months earlier.
If Claire ever starts looking into the allocation system, I need her financial access restricted immediately.
My blood ran cold.
Another message followed.
She used to investigate this kind of thing. She will recognize the pattern.
Richard hadn't simply lied to me.
He had been preparing for me.
“Why give me this?”
Madison removed her sunglasses.
“I thought Richard loved me.”
I said nothing.
“He told me he was leaving you.”
“Men like Richard always say that.”
“I know now.”
She swallowed.
“When investigators opened his private phone, they found messages to another woman.”
Despite everything, I almost laughed.
Madison had destroyed another woman’s family because she believed she was the exception.
She wasn't.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered.
“Sorry doesn't undo what happened.”
“I know.”
“Noah could have died.”
“I know.”
“You don't get forgiveness because Richard betrayed you too.”
Madison lowered her head.
“I understand.”
For the first time, I believed her.
Not enough to forgive her.
But enough to walk away.
I gave the emails to Rebecca.
They became part of the case.
Three months later, Meridian Therapeutics entered federal receivership.
Eleven executives were charged.
Madison pleaded guilty to falsifying a medical allocation document and agreed to cooperate.
Richard faced far more.
Fraud.
Conspiracy.
Obstruction.
Illegal diversion of restricted medical products.
And multiple counts connected to falsified patient records.
But before his sentencing, he asked to see Noah.
I said no.
Then Noah surprised me.
“I want to see him.”
“Why?”
My son looked at me with those serious brown eyes.
“I want to ask him something.”
So I agreed.
Not for Richard.
May you like
For Noah.
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