Chapter 4 - She Is Composed, Not Fine
Dr. Briggs’s grip tightened on Amara’s hand.
The doctor arrived shortly after Jade was removed from the library.
Dr. Mercer examined Dr. Briggs gently, checked her cheek, her blood pressure, her pupils, and the mobility supports of her wheelchair.
“No fracture signs,” she said. “But she needs monitoring tonight. Stress response is elevated.”
Dex looked stricken.
Dr. Briggs looked annoyed.
“I am sitting right here.”
Dr. Mercer smiled.
“Yes, doctor. And as my patient, you are required to let other doctors be irritating.”
Dr. Briggs huffed.
Amara almost laughed.
Then remembered she might be fired.
The thought hit suddenly.
Harder than fear had.
She had struck a guest.
A wealthy guest.
A guest Dex had planned to marry, according to half the staff rumors.
Even if the footage showed why, rich households did not always reward truth. Sometimes they disciplined the person who made it inconvenient.
Amara stepped back.
Dex noticed.
“Amara.”
She stiffened.
“Yes, sir.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No, sir.”
“Your hand?”
She looked down. Her palm stung.
“I’m fine.”
Dr. Briggs said, “She is composed. That is not the same thing.”
Amara blinked.
That sounded familiar in a way she did not understand yet.
Dex nodded.
“We’ll have your hand checked too.”
“Sir, I don’t want trouble.”
Dex looked at the cracked glasses on the floor.
“Neither did my mother.”
The sentence settled between them.
Not as accusation.
As truth.
Dex walked to the reading table and picked up Dr. Briggs’s broken glasses.
His thumb brushed the cracked lens.
For one second, he was not a billionaire.
Not a developer.
Not a man whose company owned half the skyline outside.
He was a son holding the broken thing his mother needed to see.
“Mom,” he said quietly, “why didn’t you tell me she put her hands on you before?”
Amara turned.
Jade had done this before?
Dr. Briggs looked toward the windows.
“She never slapped me before today.”
Dex’s jaw tightened.
“But?”
The old woman exhaled.
“She moved my chair without asking. Twice. She took my phone once and said I was confused. She told the nurse I was becoming paranoid. She canceled my physical therapist because she wanted the library for a brunch.”
Dex closed his eyes.
Amara felt anger rise in her chest.
Not hot.
Heavy.
Jade had been preparing the room.
Not just being rude.
Preparing.
If people believed Dr. Briggs was confused, then her complaints would become symptoms.
May you like
If staff feared Jade, then they would stop reporting.
If Dex stayed busy, then cruelty could become routine.
