Chapter 2 - The Woman Nobody Noticed

Lorenzo did not fully wake.
His eyes opened for less than three seconds before closing again.
But those three seconds were enough.
Beatrice saw recognition in them.
He had heard her.
Dr. Caldwell ordered everyone to remain calm.
“Do not move him. His blood pressure is unstable.”
Sebastian stepped closer to the bed.
“What exactly happened?”
The doctor examined the IV line.
“Someone punctured the bag.”
“Accident?”
“No.”
Caldwell held the damaged plastic beneath the light.
“The hole is clean. It wasn't caused by the fallen pole.”
Sebastian looked at Beatrice.
She remained silent.
“What were you doing near the IV?”
“My job.”
“You're a housekeeper.”
“I was cleaning.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
Beatrice looked toward Lorenzo.
“No.”
Sebastian's eyes narrowed.
Before he could question her again, Dr. Caldwell ordered the nurses to remove every medication container from the room.
Beatrice quietly slipped the punctured bag deeper beneath her apron.
She had found it that morning.
Not beside Lorenzo's bed.
Inside the linen cabinet.
Someone had hidden it behind folded towels.
Beatrice had noticed the tiny puncture while replacing sheets.
She had not understood why the bag smelled faintly of bitter almonds.
But she knew enough to be afraid.
So she had switched it before it reached Lorenzo.
Then she had hidden the original.
Because if she had handed it directly to Sebastian, she knew what would happen.
He would destroy it.
And now Lorenzo was beginning to wake.
Beatrice understood something terrifying.
She had not saved him from an accident.
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She had saved him from someone inside his own house.
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