Chapter 4 – Cracks in the Mask

The news of Mary Green's death spread like wildfire through the halls of GreenLife Private Hospital. Doctors avoided eye contact. Nurses whispered in corners. Everyone knew—but no one dared speak openly.

"She was ignored for hours," a nurse murmured. "No vitals taken. No nurse assigned. And they stuck her in a room under renovation."

"The boy stayed with her," another added. "When they found him, he was curled up beside her body... burning with fever."

It wasn't just hospital staff talking now. The board had received anonymous tips. Whispers of malpractice, of negligence—some even said the hospital founder had denied care to his own wife.

James Green sat in his office like a man buried under invisible rubble. The image of George lying next to Mary haunted him. He hadn't been able to sleep—not since the janitor showed him the picture. His son, frail and unconscious, holding on to the lifeless body of the only person who ever truly loved him.

Susana burst into the room, her tone sharp and agitated. "People are talking. That picture is circulating online. If the media connects me to this, it could destroy my career!"

James didn't answer.

"I'm serious!" she went on. "They're calling me a homewrecker. A murderer, even! You need to fix this, James. Control the story."

He slowly looked up. "You think this is about a story?"

She froze. "I... I didn't mean—"

"You knew what you were doing," he said. "You manipulated me. You told me Mary was unstable. You staged that car scare."

"I—No! You're twisting this."

"I chose wrong," he muttered, more to himself than to her.

Before she could speak again, the door opened—and in walked John Green.

He didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to. "Your wife is dead. Your son is in a hospital bed with a fever. And the world is watching."

James stood, bracing himself. "Dad—"

"You let this happen," John said coldly. "Your mother and I warned you. You turned your back on the woman who gave you everything. And now look."

He dropped a newspaper onto the desk. CEO's Wife Dies in Husband's Hospital – Son Found Clinging to Corpse.

James's throat tightened.

John stared at him for a long, heavy moment. "You may have built this hospital. But you broke your family."