Chapter 5 - The Dinner During Surgery
On Friday afternoon, Ruth collapsed in the rose garden.
Emma found her beside the stone path, conscious but in severe pain. She called emergency services and rode with her to the hospital.
Doctors determined that Ruth needed immediate surgery.
While nurses prepared her, Ruth repeatedly asked for John.
Emma called her father six times.
He did not answer.
She called Helen.
No response.
At 6:45 p.m., Emma sent them both a message.
Grandma is going into emergency surgery. Please come now.
The message showed that it had been read.
Neither of them replied.
Shortly after 7:30, Daniel called Emma.
“John is meeting Victor Hall tonight at the Royal Crest Hotel.”
Emma looked through the glass doors as nurses wheeled Ruth toward surgery.
“He knows his mother may not survive, and he is still going to that meeting?”
“That may be why he is going.”
Daniel had discovered that John promised Northgate the sale would be completed within forty-eight hours. He had also received a large advance payment through Bellamy Property Management.
If Ruth became unable to make decisions, John planned to activate the old financial authority and complete the sale before anyone learned it had been revoked.
Emma’s hands went cold.
“He is using her surgery.”
“We are contacting the authorities,” Daniel said. “Keep every message you sent him.”
Three hours passed.
Emma sat alone beside the operating room doors.
Then Helen finally called.
“We just saw your messages.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Emma, this is not the time for accusations.”
“You were at the Royal Crest Hotel.”
Silence.
Emma continued.
“Were you celebrating the sale before Grandma was even out of surgery?”
Helen lowered her voice.
“Your father is under enormous pressure. The company is failing. He did what he had to do.”
“He stole from his mother.”
“He was going to pay it back after the property sale.”
“She never agreed to sell.”
“Bellamy House would belong to him eventually.”
Emma closed her eyes.
“You sound exactly like him.”
She ended the call.
Ruth came out of surgery alive.
But before she was transferred to her private room, she asked Emma for the cream envelope.
“Put it under my pillow,” Ruth whispered.
“Grandma, it’s safer with Daniel.”
“I need John to see it.”
Emma stared at her.
“You want him to panic.”
May you like
Ruth gave the faintest nod.
“Sometimes the truth needs a door before it can enter.”
