Chapter 7 - The Forged Signature
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Vanessa said nothing. She backed away, her hands trembling at her sides.
Mia opened the thick blue folder.
The very first page contained Damian's original post-accident medical assessment from the hospital. She carefully read through the dense, handwritten notes from the attending surgeon.
Then, her eyes stopped dead on a single sentence near the bottom of the page, highlighted in bright yellow ink.
Incomplete spinal cord injury. Some neurological function preserved. Continued aggressive rehabilitation highly recommended.
Mia looked up, her heart pounding.
“Mr. Russo…”
Damian watched her face intently. “What does it say, Mia?”
She swallowed the lump of fear in her throat. “The doctor didn't say your condition was hopeless, sir. He recommended aggressive rehab.”
Vanessa suddenly lunged toward the folder like a cornered animal. “Give me that!”
“Stop.”
Damian's voice wasn't loud, but it was incredibly cold. The command hit the room like a physical blow.
Vanessa froze entirely.
Mia quickly turned to the next page.
This document was dated exactly six months after the accident. It contained a strong recommendation from a specialist to resume daily physical rehabilitation, and a sharp warning to review current medications that could be contributing to "severe muscle weakness and unnatural drowsiness."
Stapled directly to that recommendation was a signed legal request definitively declining all further medical treatment and therapy.
Mia stared at the signature at the bottom of the page.
Damian Russo.
But something was terribly, undeniably wrong.
As the housekeeper who organized his study, she had seen Damian sign business documents dozens of times. His handwriting was incredibly sharp, bold, and highly distinctive.
The signature on this medical refusal was completely different. It was loopy, hesitant, and slightly smudged.
“Sir…” Her voice trembled uncontrollably. “I don't think you signed this.”
Damian extended his large hand. “Give it to me.”
Mia handed him the paper. He studied the forged signature for a long time without speaking. The silence was deafening.
Then, he slowly, methodically looked toward Vanessa.
“Who authorized them to stop my rehabilitation?” Damian asked, his voice deadly quiet.
Vanessa's lips parted, but no sound came out. She looked at the floor. “Damian, please… you have to understand.”
“Answer me.”
“I was protecting you!” she suddenly shrieked, tears of desperation springing to her eyes.
May you like
His expression remained perfectly, terrifyingly still. “From what?”
“From disappointment! From spending years of your life chasing something completely impossible!”
