“And once Miles died in a ‘failed treatment,’ his shares would be absorbed by your legal guardian.”
“My father.”
“Then transferred through marriage.”
“To Julian.”
The room turned quiet except for Miles’s monitor.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Each sound was a small proof he was still here.
I stood.
The wedding dress dragged against the floor.
“What do we do?”
Dante studied me for a long moment.
The question seemed to please him.
Not because I asked for help.
Because I said we.
“We find Nora Bellamy before Julian does.”
“And my father?”
“He will try to get to you through the courts by morning. He will claim you are unstable, kidnapped, and incapable of making decisions.”
“I’m not.”
“I know.”
“You don’t know me.”
“No,” Dante said. “But I saw you walk away when everyone in that room expected you to kneel.”
Heat rose behind my eyes.
Miles reached for my hand again.
“Serena,” he said, “don’t let them put you back in that house.”
I looked at my brother’s thin fingers wrapped around mine.
Then at Dante.
“I want the will.”
Dante’s eyes darkened.
“Then you need to leave the hospital now.”
“No.”
“They’ll come here first.”
“I’m not leaving Miles.”
Miles gave a weak groan. “Don’t make me be noble. I’m very sick, and it’ll be embarrassing.”
I frowned at him through tears.
He squeezed my hand.
“Go. Find Mom’s lawyer. Find the will. Then come back and ruin them.”
For the first time all day, something inside me steadied.
Not healed.
Not safe.