CHAPTER 3 — "The Hospital That Didn't Want Him to Ask Questions"
The convoy of black SUVs tore through the city just after midnight.
Police escorts cleared intersections.
Traffic lights were ignored.
For the first time in years, billionaire Edward Ashcroft wasn't racing toward a business deal.
He was racing toward the woman he had never stopped loving.
In the back seat, the unconscious boy lay connected to oxygen while the company's private physician monitored his pulse.
"He'll survive," the doctor said softly.
"But his mother may not have much time."
Edward clenched the old photograph so tightly that the edges cut into his fingers.
"Keep him alive," he whispered.
"No matter what it costs."
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at St. Gabriel Medical Center.
Nurses froze.
Doctors stared.
The hospital director hurried downstairs, forcing a nervous smile.
"Mr. Ashcroft... we weren't expecting—"
"I didn't come for introductions."
Edward stepped closer.
"I came for Amelia Brooks."
The director's smile disappeared.
"I'm... sorry."
"We don't have any patient by that name."
Edward's eyes narrowed.
"Search again."
"We already did."
"No Amelia Brooks."
Behind the reception desk, a young nurse suddenly dropped a folder.
Her frightened expression lasted only a second.
But Edward noticed.
"You."
The nurse slowly looked up.
"You know something."
She shook her head too quickly.
"No..."
"I don't."
Before she could walk away, Edward's chief of security gently stopped her.
Minutes later, inside a private office, the young nurse burst into tears.
"I wasn't supposed to tell anyone."
"Who told you that?"
She hesitated.
Then whispered a name.
"Dr. Richard Lawson."
Edward frowned.
"The chief surgeon?"
She nodded.
"He ordered us to erase Amelia's records three years ago."
"He said powerful people were involved."
"If anyone asked, we were to pretend she'd never been here."
Silence filled the room.
Edward felt his heartbeat pounding against his ribs.
"Where is she now?"
"I don't know."
"They transferred her secretly during the night."
"Only Dr. Lawson knows where."
Just then...
The office door opened.
Dr. Lawson entered, smiling politely.
But the moment he saw Edward holding Amelia's photograph...
The color drained from his face.
Edward stepped forward.
"Doctor..."
"I only have one question."
"Where is Amelia Brooks?"
Lawson swallowed.
"I can't answer that."
"You can."
"No."
"You don't understand."
"If I tell you..."
"They'll kill me."
The room went completely silent.
Edward's expression hardened.
"They?"
Lawson looked toward the security cameras mounted in the hallway.
His voice dropped to almost nothing.
"They've been watching her for twenty-two years."
Before Edward could ask another question...
The lights suddenly went out.
Darkness swallowed the entire hospital.
Then—
BANG!
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A gunshot echoed through the hallway.
Someone screamed.
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