Chapter 8

A nurse pushed a medication cart past us.

I noticed several white bottles on the bottom shelf, their caps exactly like the ones in the photo.

I asked the nurse, "Are these bottles used everywhere in the pharmacy?"

The nurse paused for a moment. "Yes."

Margaret immediately said, "Claire, what are you up to now?"

I looked at Emily. "The bottle Betty took a picture of that day was like this one."

Emily's face stayed perfectly calm. "Claire, I don't know what you're talking about."

James said in a low voice, "Enough. You're trying to accuse Emily with a blurry photo?"

I said, "How about we check the pharmacy records then?"

Emily coughed softly. "Claire, this hospital isn't your family's business."

Just then, a man's voice came from the other side of the hall. "This hospital isn't the Nolan family's business either."

Albert appeared.

He was dressed in casual clothes, looking pale and exhausted, holding a folder of documents.

James's eyes turned cold. "Dr. Carter, weren't you on leave?"

Albert didn't even glance at him and came straight over to me. "Ms. Winters, I need to talk to you."

Margaret immediately stepped forward to block him. "You're a doctor. What business do you have with her? Go see Emily first."

Albert shook his head. "I can't keep hiding things for you anymore."

Everyone in the hall stopped in their tracks.

James lowered his voice. "Watch what you say, Dr. Carter."

Albert pulled a sheet of paper out of the folder. "I changed Ms. Winters's blood test report myself. Someone called me and told me to erase the sedative entry from her official records."

I asked, "Who was it?"

Albert's throat went dry. He reached for his pack of cigarettes, but when he saw the no-smoking sign in the hospital lobby, he dropped his hand. "Mrs. Margaret Nolan."

Margaret shrieked, "You're lying."

Albert looked at her. "Margaret, you said Ms. Winters had already lost her baby, so it didn't make a difference whether it was written down or not. You also said the Nolan family would look after me."

Margaret lunged forward, trying to snatch the paper.

David stepped in and blocked her.

James's face darkened. "Mom, is this true?"

Margaret froze for a moment, then quickly pointed at me. "She forced me. She's always so suspicious.

"If she found out there was medicine in her blood, she'd turn the whole house upside down. I wanted things to be quiet at home."

I asked, "Who put the medicine in my blood?"

Margaret kept her lips tightly sealed.

Emily's wheelchair shifted slightly.

I glanced over.

Her hand was moving under the blanket, as if searching for something.

Olivia, quick as ever, rushed over and yanked the blanket away. "What are you hiding?"

Emily shrieked, "What are you doing?"

The blanket hit the floor, and a white pill bottle rolled out.

The label was half torn off, leaving only a single character visible: Sleeping.

The whole hall went dead silent.

Emily suddenly burst into tears. "This is the medicine the doctor gave me to protect my pregnancy. I have no idea how things turned out like this."

I picked up the bottle.

James reached out. "Give it to me."

I didn't hand it over. "Get it tested."

Emily's crying faltered for a moment.

James looked at me. "Claire, Emily's pregnant. Are you really going to push her to the edge?"

I looked at him. "I've been pregnant, too."

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Albert suddenly said, "Emily's name is on the pharmacy records as the one who picked up the medicine."

Emily's head snapped up.

Margaret shouted, "Shut up!"

Albert took a step back. "I've already handed the records over to the police."

The police arrived.

Emily sat in her wheelchair, crying that she didn't feel well and couldn't cooperate.

Margaret was shouting that she wanted a lawyer.

James stared at the pill bottle, looking like all the strength had been drained from his body.

I didn't look at him.

The police officer asked me, "Ms. Winters, are you sure you want to file a report?"

I said, "Yes."

Emily looked up, crying, "Claire, I didn't hurt you. I was so scared."

I asked, "Afraid of what?"

"Afraid you'd take James away from me."

Olivia couldn't help but laugh. "You stole someone else's husband, and now you're scared the real wife will take him back? Are you brain-dead or something?"

The officer shot her a look.

Olivia shut up, but kept mouthing insults.

Emily cried even harder, acting as if she was the real victim. "James and I really love each other. Claire's always lording it over me as Mrs. Nolan, and after I got pregnant, she couldn't stand me even more. I wanted to protect my baby."

I said, "So, did you drug me?"

"I didn't."

Albert spoke up, "Ms. Lane, your signature is on the pharmacy records."

Emily shot back, "Signatures can be forged."

The officer asked, "Why was the pill bottle found on you?"

Emily bit her lip nervously and turned to James. "James, do you trust me?"

James didn't answer right away.

It was the first time James ever hesitated.

Emily's tears streamed down even harder. "If you don't believe me, then what's the point of me even living?"

Margaret rushed over and hugged her. "James, say something. Emily's carrying your baby."

James closed his eyes. "I believe you."

As soon as he said those words, Emily looked like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

I looked at him. "James, you still believe her?"

He turned to me, his eyes conflicted. "We can figure out the whole drug situation. But don't push her in front of the cops and reporters. Her body can't take it."

I said, "And my body can handle it?"

He didn't answer.

The police bagged the pill bottle as evidence and took Albert along with the records.

Emily wasn't allowed to leave the hospital. She could only give her statement for now.

James walked over to me. "Claire, we need to talk."

I replied, "There's nothing left to say."

He lowered his voice. "If Emily really drugged you, I'll make it right for you."

I shot back, "Make it right? What, let her cry a bit, kick her out of the house, and then bring her back after the baby's born?"

His face darkened. "Do you have to be so mean?"

"My baby died. You expect me to be magnanimous and wish you two happiness?"

He tugged at his tie in frustration. "The baby's death might not even be related to the medicine."

I stared at him. "Are you going to say the kidnapping had nothing to do with it either?"

His face went a little pale. "The kidnapping was a fluke."

I moved in closer. "James, I dare you to say that again."

He said nothing.