The Physician with Two Names
Chapter 11 - The Physician with Two Names
Julian woke tied to a chair in the mansion’s east-wing medical room.
Victoria stood near the window.
Dr. Samuel Voss removed his gray wig and the prosthetic ridge from his nose. Beneath them was the face from old hospital photographs.
Edward Vale smiled at his nephew.
“You look like your father when he realizes a room does not belong to him.”
Julian struggled against the restraints.
“You used my accounts.”
“I maintained the family legacy.”
“My mother said you were dead.”
Victoria looked away.
Edward had staged his boating accident when federal investigators began examining the clinics. For fifteen years, he moved between countries under medical identities while Victoria funneled foundation money to him.
Grant’s crash gave them the chance to seize permanent control.
Ava’s arrival threatened everything.
Edward placed a tablet in front of Julian.
On-screen was a resignation letter transferring his voting shares to Victoria.
“Sign it.”
“No.”
Edward injected something into the IV line beside the chair.
Julian’s vision blurred.
Victoria stepped forward.
“Stop. You said he would not be hurt.”
Edward laughed.
“You removed an infant from a hospital and now discover maternal limits?”
“I saved my son.”
“You saved your position.”
Julian looked at his mother through the haze.
“Did you know he would take Ava?”
Victoria’s silence answered.
Edward pressed Julian’s thumb against the tablet.
The biometric reader flashed red.
Julian had disabled executive approvals the moment Grant returned.
For once, his caution worked against them.
Edward struck him.
A house alarm sounded.
Grant’s plane had landed at a nearby private strip. Marcus triggered the old exterior system remotely, forcing the east-wing locks open.
Edward grabbed a medical case and ran toward the hidden staircase.
Victoria remained beside Julian.
She could free him or follow her brother.
For several seconds, she did neither.
Then she cut Julian’s restraints.
“Tell them he forced me.”
Julian stood unsteadily.
“No.”
Victoria stared at him.
“I am your mother.”
“That is not a legal defense.”
Police entered the room.
Victoria raised her hands.
Edward escaped through the tunnel leading toward the old greenhouse.
Ava arrived with Grant and found Julian bleeding near the mouth.
He looked at her.
“They wanted my shares.”
“Are you hurt?”
“Less than my pride.”
Ava helped him stand.
The gesture surprised them both.
Outside, lightning moved beyond the glass roof of the greenhouse.
Edward had taken the medical case containing the original hospital records, Grant’s biometric files, and the certified DNA samples recovered before the laboratory fire.
If he destroyed them, the criminal case could still survive.
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But Ava’s legal identity would remain vulnerable for years.
She and Julian followed the tunnel together.
