She ignored him again.
“There were legal matters involving your father and Mitchell Medical Technologies. Research ownership. Early patent claims. He threatened to challenge Jason publicly.”
“My father was a high school physics teacher,” I said. “He didn’t threaten corporations.”
“He was your father,” Evelyn replied. “And fathers become reckless when they believe their children are being used.”
The words struck harder than I expected.
My father had known.
Maybe not everything. But enough.
The examiner cleared his throat softly. “We should secure the contents before continuing any personal discussion.”
Daniel nodded, returning instantly to the practical. “Everything in the Caldwell folder. The medical folder. The Iris folder. Chain of custody.”
Priya began documenting each item.
Madison remained near the doorway, pale and silent.
Evelyn looked at the open boxes as though she could still command them back into secrecy.
