Chapter 6 - The Morning of the Will
I woke up to the sound of birds,
a cruel irony for a day that was meant for death.
My breathing was shallow,
each gasp a struggle against the weight in my chest.
Elena was by my side,
her eyes red as she checked the IV.
She had seen the dial,
she knew what David had done,
and I saw the silent fury in her gaze.
"I’m so sorry,
Eliza,"
she whispered,
squeezing my hand.
I blinked once—a signal we had developed for "it's okay."
David and Jessica were already downstairs,
the sound of their laughter drifting up through the vents.
They were having a celebratory breakfast,
no doubt,
planning the renovations for the new "bright" room.
The door opened,
and Mr. Sterling walked in,
carrying a leather briefcase.
He looked at me,
his expression a mask of professional sorrow,
but his eyes held a sharp,
knowing glint.
David followed him in,
wiping his mouth with a napkin,
the image of the devoted,
grieving spouse.
"Mr. Sterling,"
David said,
his voice trembling with fake emotion.
"Thank you for coming so early. I’m afraid the end is very near."
"Indeed,"
Mr. Sterling replied,
setting his briefcase on the table.
"Eliza contacted me yesterday regarding some final adjustments to her estate."
David’s face paled for a fraction of a second.
"Adjustments? She can't even speak. How could she make adjustments?"
Mr. Sterling gestured to the eye-tracking computer.
"The law recognizes digital signatures and eye-tracking communication as valid,
provided there is a witness."
"And Elena here has witnessed every session."
David looked at the nurse,
who stared back at him with a cold,
unblinking gaze.
"I’m sure it’s just some small bequests,"
David said,
trying to regain his composure.
"A few donations to charity,
no doubt."
"Actually,"
Mr. Sterling said,
opening the briefcase,
"it is a complete restructuring of the will."
"It includes a very specific clause regarding the dissolution of assets in the event of marital misconduct."
The room went silent,
the only sound the frantic beep of my monitor as my heart began to fail.
David let out a nervous laugh.
"Misconduct? That’s ridiculous. I’ve been a saint through this whole ordeal."
"We have the evidence,
David,"
I thought,
wishing I could say the words aloud.
At that moment,
Jessica walked into the room,
wearing my emerald necklace and the diamond watch she had stolen from my closet.
She didn't know Mr. Sterling was there.
She didn't know the trap had already snapped shut.
"David,
darling,
have you seen the—"
She stopped,
her eyes wide as she saw the lawyer.
She instinctively reached for the necklace,
trying to hide it,
but it was too late.
Mr. Sterling’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the jewelry.
"Those pieces are specifically listed in the estate as private heirlooms,
May you like
not to be removed from the premises."
The silence that followed was heavy with the scent of a coming storm.
