Chapter 2: The Photograph on the Desk
His office door was already open when I arrived.
Christopher was standing behind his desk.
No apology.
No guilt on his face.
Just that calm, controlled expression he always wore when he wanted to manage a situation.
"Close the door, Isabel."
I didn't move.
"You let that woman use your name for four years," I said.
"Every nurse in that hospital thinks she's your wife."
"It's more complicated than that."
"Then explain it."
He was quiet for a moment.
Then he sat down, folded his hands on the desk, and looked at me the way he looked at difficult patients.
Steady.
Calculated.
"I need you to delay the inspection of the cardiology department.
Six weeks.
That's all."
I stared at him.
"You're asking me to falsify a government audit."
"I'm asking you to adjust the timeline."
"Christopher—"
"Bianca's father is on the hospital board." His voice dropped.
"If that department gets flagged right now, certain things come out.
Things that affect people beyond just me."
My hands went cold.
"What things?"
He opened his desk drawer and placed a single photograph on the surface between us.
May you like
I recognized the face immediately.
And suddenly the secret pregnancy wasn't the worst part anymore.
