The hospital corridor felt colder that morning, as the building itself sense the tension creeping back to Mrs Carter life. She had spent the night in the chair beside Daniel's bed, watching his chest rise and fall, grateful he was alive but terrified of everything waiting outside those walls.
Just as she thought things couldn't get worse, they came.
The Carters
Her later husband's brothers and their wives_ people she had never gotten along with , people who always blame her for '"weakening the family bloodline" people who had stay silent for years.... until trouble appeared like a chance to strike.
She saw them before they saw her,standing in cluster near the reception desk, dressed in expensive suits and cold intentions. Her heart dropped.
Of course
Of course they would come.
The moment Daniel was in an accident, the moment he became vulnerable, the moment the company need leadership _ the vultures return.
Mrs Carter straightener her back walked toward them. She refused to look scared.
" Sonia" one of the brothers greet her an oily smile. " we hard about the accident. Such a terrible thing... but we need to discuss about the company.
There it was.
No sympathy.
No concern for Daniel.
Just business.
Just power.
She clenched her jaw. " Daniel is recovering. The company is stable."
But the eldest brothers laughed softly," stable? With your son in hospital bed, shareholders are panicking. We think it's best for one of us to take over temporarily. "
Temporary
She knew what that meant
Forever.
Her fingers tightened around her handbag.
" Daniel is still the Ceo."
Another brother stepped closer, " not if the board votes otherwise. And with you having no claim of your own... well the family business must stay in capable hands."
Capable
Means theirs
Not hers.
Not her son's
Mrs Carter felt heat rush if her cheeks. Her held her ground. " over my dead body."
The woman exchange look. The men smirked. They thought she was weak. Alone. Easy to push aside.
They didn't know her at all.
That evening, she returned to Daniel's room, her heart heavy but her determination burning stronger than ever. She took his hand gently, brushing her thumb over his fingers.
" don't worry my son," she whispered.
" they think you are alone. They think we are weak. But I'll protect what you build. I'll protect what is yours."
Daniel didn't wake up but his hands twitched faintly, as if he heard her.
She felt her eyes sting,but she refused to let a single tear fall. Not now.
Let them come
For years she had stay silent, tolerating her in - laws for the sake of peace. But now they had cross the line.
They wanted his legacy
They wanted to erase everything she and Daniel fought for.
They thought a mother's love was something to underestimate.
They would finf out soon how wrong they were.
Mrs Carter sat straight lifting her chin.
She was alone...
But she was ready for war.
Her phone vibrate sharply, cutting through the heavy silence of the hospital room. She glanced at screen - no caller ID
Most people will ignore it.
But she didn't
With a slow breath, she stepped out into the hallway an answer.
" yes?"
A crisp, calm on the other hand - male, steady, controlled." Hello miss me? I had there was an incident. "
Mrs Carter eyes narrowed," I didn't call you..yet"
You didn't need to," the voice replied, " do you need any help?"
For a moment, she hesitated. Not because she's feared of him. But because once she said the words there's no turning back.
She look towards Daniel's room_ her son lying helpless, surrounded by tubes and monitors.
If someone did this to him...
If it's wasn't an accident..
Her jaw tightened
" I want you to investigate the crash," she said firmly." Every detail. Every angle. I want to know if the accident was truly an accident.... or something man_ made."
The voice was silent for a second then.
" understood."
" leave no stone unturned," she added in low voice," if someone had a hand in hurting my son... I want their name."
Another beat of silence.
Then he spoke almost impressed, " you think someone is targeting him?"
Mrs Carter looks out the window , watching city lights glowing against the evening sky.
" I don't think," she whispered.
" I know"
A quiet exhale came through the phone _ not suprise, but confirmation. He trust her instincts more than most.
" I'll begin immediately," the voice said." You'll will have updates within 48 hours."
" Good. And more thing..."
" yes?"
" be careful," she warned." If someone wanted Daniel of the way, they won't hesitate to strike again."
"I'll always am," he replied then the call ended with a soft click.
Mrs Carter lowered the phone slowly, her heart pounding but her expression cold and controlled. Her in laws wanted to challenge her.
Someone might have wanted to harm her son. Enemies were cycling from every direction.
But they forgot it one thing.
A mother_ especially a mother alone_ was the most dangerous opponent of all.
She slipped her phone into her bag and walked toward Daniel's room with steps sharper than steel.
Whoever try to destroy him...
Whoever thought she would be easy to break..
Whoever try to destroy her child...
They were about to learn what true fear was.
Mrs Carter reentered Daniel's room, but something inside her had changed. The fear was still, yes...but now it's lived beside something far stronger.
Resolve
She took her site beside him again, her fingers brushing lightly over his hand. His skin warm, his breathing steady_ but remained unconscious, lost somewhere she couldn't reach.
" don't worry " she murmured." I will find who did this to you."
A soft knock interrupt her thoughts
She turned sharply
The door open just enough for a nurse to pick in," Mrs Carter?There...guest asking to see you, I can send them away if you prefer that."
Guest
She already knew who
" No" she said. " I'll handle them."
She stepped out into the hallway _ where two of her in laws stood waiting pretending to be sympathetic.
" sonia" the eldest brother said smoothly " we didn't get the chance to speak earlier. We only want what best for Daniel."
" what's best for Daniel?" She said coldly, " is for you to stay out of his affairs"
The brother gave a tight smile, but his eyes were sharp
." You've always been so emotional.
Business required a clear mind."
" and loyalty, " she snapped.
He blinked_ caught off guard
Loyalty was a word that cut deeply in their family.
Because loyalty was something her husband's relatives never shown.
The younger brother stepped forward, " we're simply suggesting a transition for the company until Daniel recovered."
" a transition in whose hands?" She demanded
He hesitated
Her lips curled bitterly " Exactly."
She turned to leave. But the eldest brother spoke again _ his tone lower and colder.
" you're making a dangerous decision Sonia.
You don't have as much power as you think."
She faced him slowly." And you underestimate me far too much."
His smile dropped
She walked away without another word, leaving them standing in the hallway like unwanted shadows.
When she returns to Daniel's side her phone vibrate again. This time it's was message.
Unknown number: I've found something call me when you can.
Her heart skipped
She stepped into the hallway again and dialed quickly. The mysterious man answer on the fist ring.
" what did you find?" She asked.
There was a quiet pause_ one that make her stomach tightened.
" darling " he began," I checked the traffic cameras bear the crash sites. Someone tampered with one of them minutes before the accident."
Her breath caught
" tampered...how"
" the footage between 9:14 and 9:19 is missing deleted deliberately. Not a glitch."
Her pulse quickened. " are you telling that someone erased the moment of the crash."
" I'm telling you," he said ," someone didn't want anyone to see what really happened."
Mrs Carter leaned against the wall, her mind racing.
This wasn't carelessness..
This wasn't coincidence
Someone was waiting fir Daniel
" do you have a suspect?" She asked.
" not yet. But I trace who accessed the camera system. "
A pause
" it came from inside the company network."
Inside the company
Her blood ran cold
Her in laws are trying to take over...
Someone in the company may have helped caused the accident?
" keep digging, " she said firmly" I want names, I want motives. I want proof."
" You'll have it " he promised," but be careful,if someone targeted your son.... they may targeted you next."
The call ended
Mars Carter lowered the phone slowly, her heart pounding harder than before.
Inside the company
Someone was sabotaging Daniel from within
Her eyes narrowed, sharp and cold.
They thought they could attack him when his vulnerable.
They thought she would break
They thought very afraid.
They were wrong
Terribly, dangerously wrong.
She walked back into the hospital room with a new fire burning her chest.
" A mother alone" she whispered to herself, "is still a mother who fights. "