Chapter 6 - Jeffrey Comes to the Hospital
Jeffrey arrived at the hospital wearing a navy suit and a face designed for cameras.
He brought flowers.
White roses.
Madeline almost laughed when she saw them through the glass wall of Liam’s room.
White roses were what Jeffrey sent investors after destroying them in negotiations. An apology without apology. A performance of elegance over rot.
Dana Whitcomb stopped him before he reached the door.
“Mr. Thorne, you cannot enter.”
Jeffrey smiled politely. “That is my wife and son.”
Dana did not move. “There is a temporary safety restriction in place pending investigation.”
His smile tightened.
“I have rights.”
“You also have questions to answer.”
Jeffrey looked past her at Madeline.
His eyes pleaded now.
That was new.
“Madeline,” he called. “Please. We need to talk.”
Liam heard his voice.
The child’s entire body locked.
Madeline felt it happen before she saw it.
His fingers clawed into her sweater. His breathing turned shallow. He curled inward, trying to disappear.
Madeline stood.
Elliot rose beside her.
“No,” she told him quietly.
“I’m not going to hit him,” Elliot said.
“I know. That’s why I said no to myself.”
She walked to the door and stepped into the hallway, closing it behind her so Liam could no longer see Jeffrey.
Jeffrey looked relieved.
That irritated her more than his arrogance had.
“Thank God,” he said softly. “Listen to me. This got out of hand.”
Madeline stared at him.
“Out of hand?”
“My mother made mistakes.”
“Your mother?”
He lowered his voice. “Do not do this here.”
“Where would you prefer? The storage room?”
His face twitched.
Good.
He knew.
“Madeline, I never wanted Liam hurt.”
“You just wanted him hidden.”
“That is not fair.”
“No, Jeffrey. What is not fair is a four-year-old learning to crawl because the adults around him treated him like a stain.”
A hospital security guard moved closer.
Jeffrey noticed.
His charm began to crack.
“You were gone,” he said. “You don’t know how difficult he became.”
Madeline leaned in.
“I know he was two when I left. I know he spoke in full sentences. I know he loved pancakes, dinosaurs, and sleeping with the blue blanket my mother made him. I know he called you Daddy and ran to the door when you came home.”
Jeffrey looked away.
“And I know he stopped being difficult the moment you stopped treating him like a child.”
His eyes flashed. “You think you’re innocent? You chose London.”
“You sent me there.”
“I asked you to help the company.”
“You threatened to replace me as Liam’s primary beneficiary if I refused.”
Jeffrey froze.
Madeline smiled coldly.
“Yes. I remember that too.”
He stepped closer. “Be careful.”
Elliot moved.
So did hospital security.
Jeffrey stopped.
Madeline pulled out her phone.
“Say it again,” she said.
His eyes dropped to the device.
Fear.
There it was.
The first clean sign that he understood the world had changed.
“You’re recording me?”
“From now on,” Madeline said, “assume every word you say to me will be heard by a judge, a board, and eventually the public.”
Jeffrey’s face hardened.
“You will destroy this family.”
May you like
Madeline looked through the glass at Liam, who was watching from the bed with huge terrified eyes.
“No,” she said. “You already did.”
