Chapter 2 - THE SEALED BLACK ENVELOPE
Richard waited until the doctor stabilized Maya’s oxygen levels.
The steady, rhythmic beep of the heart monitor slowly returned to a normal pace.
Maya closed her eyes, exhausted from the sheer terror of the confrontation.
Her fingers still clutched the edge of Richard’s dark jacket sleeve tightly.
"Rest now, Maya," Richard whispered, kissing her cold forehead gently.
"I am right here," he added in a reassuring tone.
He carefully eased his arm out of her grip as her hands loosened in sleep.
He turned toward the small nightstand stacked with medical charts.
Something cornered beneath the white paper sheets caught his eye.
It was a thick, matte-black envelope with no name written on the front.
Richard frowned, feeling a sudden chill run down his spine.
He pulled the envelope out from under the heavy clipboard.
The paper felt heavy, smooth, and suspiciously expensive between his fingers.
He glanced over at the door to make sure no nurses were watching.
He slid his finger under the wax seal and broke it quietly.
Inside was a single glossy photograph and a handwritten note.
Richard pulled the photograph out first.
His breath caught sharply in his throat the moment he saw the image.
It was a picture taken from a distance inside a dimly lit parking garage.
The photo showed Victoria handing a thick manila folder to a tall man in a dark coat.
The man’s face was partially obscured, but the silver watch on his wrist was clear.
It was the exact same watch that Julian’s father used to wear years ago.
Richard’s hands began to tremble slightly as he flipped the photo over.
On the back, written in crimson red ink, was a single sentence:
"The baby is not Julian's heir, but Victoria's ultimate key."
Richard quickly pulled out the accompanying handwritten letter.
The handwriting was jagged, written in extreme haste.
"If you want your daughter to survive the night, do not sign the medical consent forms."
"Victoria has bribed the head anesthesiologist to force an early emergency delivery."
"Once the child is out, Maya will not wake up from the anesthesia."
"Check the IV line marked with blue tape immediately."
"They are switching her medication at midnight."
Richard turned his head instantly toward the IV pole standing beside Maya’s bed.
His heart pounded against his ribs like a sledgehammer.
There were three bags hanging on the stainless steel pole.
The middle bag had a tiny strip of bright blue tape wrapped around its tube.
Richard rushed to the pole, his eyes wide with horror and rage.
He looked closely at the clear liquid dripping slowly into the tube.
The label on the bag was printed in plain text: Saline Solution 0.9%.
But right underneath the label, written in black marker, was a tiny code: VX-4.
Richard knew that chemical code from his years working in pharmaceutical logistics.
It was a powerful neuromuscular blocking agent used strictly in heavy surgical sedations.
In a pregnant woman in Maya's fragile state, it would cause instant respiratory failure.
"That monster..." Richard growled under his breath, his knuckles turning white.
Suddenly, the silent door handle slowly began to turn from the outside.
Richard quickly slipped the black envelope into his inner jacket pocket.
He stepped back from the IV pole just as the door pushed open.
A young nurse walked in, carrying a tray covered with a white towel.
She wore a fresh pair of surgical gloves and kept her head tilted down.
"It's time for Mrs. Vance's scheduled IV change," the nurse said, her voice flat and emotionless.
She walked straight toward the IV pole with the blue-tapped tube.
Richard stood directly between her and the bed, blocking her path entirely.
"Who ordered this injection?" Richard asked, his voice deathly calm.
setup.
The nurse paused, her hands hovering over the tray.
"Dr. Aris ordered it, sir," she replied without looking him in the eye.
"It is just a standard sedative to help her sleep through the night."
Richard reached out and gripped the nurse's wrist firmly.
"Show me the digital prescription order on your tablet right now," Richard demanded.
The nurse tried to pull her arm back, a flash of panic crossing her face.
"Sir, you are interfering with medical procedures," she said, raising her voice slightly.
"Show me the order, or I will break your arm," Richard said, leaning close to her face.
Before she could answer, the door swung wide open once again.
Julian stood in the doorway, staring at Richard holding the nurse's wrist.
"What the hell are you doing, Dad?" Julian shouted, stepping into the room.
"Are you completely losing your mind?" Julian asked, looking at the scene in shock.
Richard didn't let go of the nurse's wrist.
He pointed his free hand straight at the IV bag with the blue tape.
"Your mother is trying to kill her tonight, Julian!" Richard yelled.
Julian stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes opening wide in confusion.
"What are you talking about?" Julian asked, his voice shaking.
"Look at this bag!" Richard barked, ripping the blue-tapped tube right off the pole.
Liquid squirted across the shiny tile floor as the tube snapped.
tight.
"Dad, stop it! You're losing control!" Julian screamed, stepping forward to grab Richard.
"She put VX-4 in this line!" Richard yelled back, shoving Julian away with full force.
Julian stumbled backward, slamming his back against the heavy doorframe.
The young nurse took advantage of the chaos, dropped her tray, and bolted out the door.
"Get back here!" Richard roared, making a step toward the hallway.
"Dad, look at Maya!" Julian suddenly shrieked in absolute terror.
Richard turned around instantly.
May you like
Maya was convulsing violently on the bed, her eyes rolling into the back of her head.
The heart monitor let out a continuous, flatline high-pitched scream.
