The Fall in Suite 908
Chapter 01 - The Fall in Suite 908
Grace Mercer was thirty-six weeks pregnant when she entered the private maternity suite above St. Catherine’s Hospital. Downstairs, the annual charity gala glittered with chandeliers and wealthy donors. Her husband, Ethan, asked her to rest upstairs until his speech ended.
Grace expected one quiet hour.
Instead, Vanessa Mercer walked in wearing a burgundy gown.
Vanessa was Ethan’s older sister and the acting chief financial officer of Mercer Medical Group. Their grandfather’s trust contained one condition she hated: when Ethan’s first child was born, control of the family’s hospital shares would pass into a protected fund managed by Ethan and Grace.
Vanessa placed a folder on the marble table.
“Sign this tonight.”
The document appointed Vanessa temporary trustee if Grace became medically unable to make decisions. Another page authorized the sale of several hospital properties after the baby’s birth.
Grace pushed it away. “Ethan will never approve this.”
“He already signed.”
The signature looked convincing, but Ethan always crossed the second line of the letter E. This one did not.
“You forged it.”
Vanessa’s expression hardened. “You walked into this family and changed everything.”
“No. Your grandfather changed it because he didn’t trust you.”
Vanessa stepped closer. “You don’t know what I sacrificed for these hospitals.”
“I know seven million dollars disappeared from the pediatric expansion account.”
Grace had found the transfers that morning and copied them to a secure drive. She planned to tell Ethan after the gala.
Vanessa grabbed her wrist. “Where is it?”
Grace pulled free and reached for her phone. Vanessa shoved her against the table. Pain shot through Grace’s back. When Vanessa pushed again, Grace fell to the carpet.
A sharp cramp tightened across her belly.
Ethan rushed through the doorway in his tuxedo. He saw Grace on the floor and Vanessa standing above her.
Vanessa immediately began crying.
“She attacked me,” she said. “She lost her balance when I defended myself.”
Grace struggled to breathe. “The camera…”
Vanessa looked toward the lens above the television and smiled.
“I disconnected it before I came in.”
The television turned on.
May you like
Black-and-white security footage filled the screen.
And the recording began with Vanessa entering the room.
