My memory flickered.
A hospital ceiling.
A woman’s voice telling me to stay awake.
My own mouth forming one word.
Dad.
Thomas continued. “When I arrived, Jason and Evelyn were there. Jason told security I was unstable. Evelyn said there was a family legal matter and I should leave before I made things worse for you.”
“Did you?”
“No.” He looked down. “Not then.”
Daniel stood a few feet away, listening carefully.
“What happened after?” he asked.
Thomas glanced toward him.
“I argued with Jason. The nurse threatened to call the police if they prevented me from seeing Iris. Evelyn took me aside. She showed me documents.”
“What documents?” Daniel asked.
“Patent transfer papers. Corporate agreements. Medical evaluations claiming Iris was emotionally unwell and that any public dispute might damage her credibility. Evelyn said if I challenged Jason, Iris would be painted as unstable in court, her work discredited, her privacy destroyed. She said Jason would make sure no hospital, no research center, no company would ever take her seriously again.”
