Chapter 3 - My First Day at Hargrove Health Group Was Supposed to Be My Fresh Start—Until Someone Left a Photograph of My Mother on My DeskI accepted the job.
Not because of Adrian.
Because I needed the money.
Because my mother deserved better.
Because I was tired of choosing between rent and groceries.
My first day began at seven-thirty.
Hargrove Health Group occupied forty-two floors of glass and steel.
The lobby looked more like a luxury hotel than a medical corporation.
Employees wore designer suits.
Security stood at every entrance.
My badge opened doors I didn't know existed.
My office overlooked the city.
I stared through the glass.
For the first time in years, I thought:
Maybe I made it.
Then I found the photograph.
It sat on my desk.
A photograph of my mother.
I stopped breathing.
She was younger.
Maybe thirty.
Standing beside another woman.
I knew the other woman.
Margaret Hargrove.
My mother had never mentioned her.
I turned the photograph over.
One sentence was written on the back.
Ask Adrian why your mother disappeared.
My hands went cold.
I called him.
He arrived in less than five minutes.
He looked at the photograph.
His expression hardened.
“Where did you find this?”
“My desk.”
“Who had access?”
“Everyone.”
He picked it up.
“This photograph shouldn't exist.”
“Why?”
He didn't answer.
“Adrian.”
He looked at me.
“Your mother knew mine.”
I stared.
“What?”
“They were friends.”
“How close?”
“Very.”
“Then why didn't my mother ever tell me?”
“Because she was protecting you.”
“From what?”
May you like
His jaw tightened.
“From my family.”
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