Chapter 14 - The Message
Grant listened to Catherine's unsent voice message alone first.
Then he asked Avery if she wanted to hear it.
She said yes.
Nolan and Lily sat nearby.
Catherine's voice filled the room.
"Grant."
"I know you think I'm overreacting."
"I'm not."
"Darius is moving money."
"Howard is helping him."
"Elena has proof."
"If anything happens to me, protect Avery from them."
Then her voice softened.
"And don't make her become quiet just because her feelings scare you."
Grant covered his face.
Avery stared at him.
"You did."
He lowered his hands.
"Yes."
"You wanted me quiet."
"Yes."
"Because I scared you?"
"Yes."
Avery thought about that.
Then she leaned against him.
Only slightly.
Grant did not move.
He let her choose the distance.
That became the beginning of repair.
Not a speech.
Not a gift.
A child deciding she could lean one inch closer without being grabbed.
Meanwhile, Darius refused to cooperate.
He blamed Howard.
Howard blamed Darius.
The evidence blamed both.
Then Howard revealed one final person.
Catherine's foundation CFO.
Marianne Frost.
She had approved fake patient files.
She had also been the person who recommended every expert Grant hired for Avery.
Every expert who framed trauma as pathology.
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Marianne had spent a year making sure nobody listened too closely to Avery.
