Chapter 5: The Doctor's Arrival
Chapter 5: The Doctor's Arrival
Across the long stretch of the table, Olivia’s mother, Helen, stood up. Heavy tears were streaming freely down her face, her maternal instincts screaming at her to cross the room and pull her daughter away from these monsters.
Her father, Paul, gripped the back of his chair so tightly his knuckles were stark white. His jaw was clenched so hard it looked painful.
They had only come to this excruciating family dinner because Olivia had begged them to.
For months, she had been afraid. She wasn't afraid of physical violence. She was terrified of being slowly, systematically erased by Margaret’s relentless psychological campaign.
The little comments about the baby's wrong due date. The questioning of her eye color. The accusations that she spent too much time alone. Jason had always told Olivia not to take it personally, until he suddenly started asking the exact same questions.
Suddenly, the heavy mahogany double doors of the dining room swung open.
Dr. Samuel Ellis stepped inside. He was not dressed for a gala; he wore his white medical coat over his trousers, carrying a sealed, thick manila envelope.
He was the Bennett family’s highly respected private physician. He had delivered Jason.
His face was grave, lined with exhaustion and deep sorrow.
“I apologize for interrupting dinner,” Dr. Ellis said, his voice echoing in the dead silent room.
Margaret, desperate to regain her footing and control her crumbling kingdom, snapped instinctively.
“This is not a good time, Doctor. We are dealing with a private family matter.”
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Dr. Ellis did not look at Margaret. He looked directly at Olivia, his expression filled with profound, heavy empathy.
“I believe, Margaret,” he said quietly, “it is exactly the time.”
