Chapter 6
The physician called before midnight.
He did not give me chemical names.
I did not need them.
His conclusion was enough.
“Do not let anyone eat that cake.”
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Would it have harmed Ethan?”
“Yes.”
“How badly?”
A pause.
“Badly enough that I would not call this an accident.”
I closed my eyes.
Confirmed.
Not suspicion.
Not family drama.
Someone prepared food for my eight-year-old son knowing it could seriously hurt him.
I ended the call.
Genevieve watched my face.
She understood before I spoke.
Julian did too.
I looked at Ethan.
Sarah had taken both children into another room.
Good.
They did not need this part.
“It was contaminated.”
Genevieve’s expression barely moved.
That control impressed me.
Julian’s did not.
His eyes shifted toward the door.
Escape.
I noticed.
“So now,” I said, “we stop pretending.”
Genevieve folded her hands.
“You still cannot prove I knew.”
There.
Not horror.
Not surprise.
Defense.
I looked at her for a long time.
“You just learned your grandnephew’s birthday cake could have seriously harmed him.”
She stared back.
“And your first concern is what I can prove.”
Her face changed.
Small.
But the room saw it.
Three capos were present now.
Old men who had known Genevieve for decades.
One lowered his eyes.
Another took one step away from her.
Power moves like that.
Quietly.
Julian snapped.
“Everybody stop acting like she wanted Ethan dead.”
I turned.
“Interesting wording.”
His jaw tightened.
“I mean hurt.”
“You said dead.”
Silence.
Genevieve looked at him.
Not fear.
Fury.
He had gone too far.
I stepped closer.
“What outcome were you expecting?”
Julian said nothing.
“Hospital?”
Nothing.
“Collapse?”
His breathing changed.
There.
I saw it.
The plan had not necessarily depended on Ethan dying.
Maybe something more useful.
I looked at Genevieve.
“What happens to my organization if my heir collapses publicly at his birthday?”
Her eyes narrowed.
And suddenly I saw the larger shape.
May you like
This was not only about removing Ethan.
It was about proving I could not protect him.
