Chapter 8
The doctor arrived through the service entrance.
Dr. Hannah Mercer had treated the girls since infancy.
Bianca had told me Hannah moved to Boston.
Hannah had never moved.
She had been removed from the family contact list after repeatedly requesting appointments.
When she saw the girls near the fireplace, she stopped walking.
Her medical bag lowered to the floor.
“What happened?”
Bianca answered before I could.
“They are dramatic.”
Hannah looked at her once.
Then ignored her.
She approached Ava slowly.
“Do you remember me?”
Ava stared.
Hannah hummed the first line of the lullaby she used during childhood vaccinations.
Ava’s expression changed.
“Doctor Hannah?”
“Yes.”
Ava began crying.
Not loudly.
She simply folded into Hannah’s arms while still clutching the plate.
Hannah did not announce a diagnosis.
She asked for warm blankets.
Small sips of water.
A quiet room.
No sudden large meal until she completed an assessment.
The caterers moved instantly now.
The same staff who had carried champagne began bringing towels, warm water, and plain food for later.
Grace watched them nervously.
“Is it for guests?”
“It’s for you,” I said.
She did not believe me yet.
Bianca stood isolated beneath the chandelier.
Her diamonds seemed brighter as the room around her turned colder.
“Ethan,” she said softly, changing tactics, “I was overwhelmed.”
I looked at her.
“You hosted one hundred people.”
“I mean with the girls.”
“You had staff.”
“They undermined me.”
“So you dismissed them.”
“They disrespected my authority.”
“And Hannah?”
“She encouraged their attention-seeking.”
Dr. Mercer looked up sharply but kept her voice controlled.
“You repeatedly canceled medically recommended appointments.”
Bianca’s eyes narrowed.
“That is confidential.”
“No,” I said.
“What happened to my daughters is no longer yours to manage privately.”
Lorraine began crying.
She reached toward Mia.
Mia moved behind my leg.
Lorraine stopped as though struck.
“Sweetheart, Grandma loves you.”
Mia looked up at her.
“Pretty girls don’t eat.”
Lorraine covered her mouth.
The phrase belonged to Bianca.
May you like
But Lorraine had allowed it to become law.
Read the full story 👉 The family doctor Bianca claimed had moved away returned and revealed she had been blocked from seeing the girls.
