Chapter 6 - THE DOCTOR WHO STOLE HIS HOPE
Dominic stared at the medical report as though it were written in another language.
For six months, he'd believed his future had already been decided.
No walking.
No recovery.
No hope.
Now a doctor was telling him that someone had interfered with his treatment.
Piper sat beside him.
“Dominic?”
He didn't answer.
His hands gripped the wheelchair armrests.
Finally, he whispered, “I stopped trying.”
Piper's chest tightened.
“You were told there was no point.”
“I believed him.”
“You trusted your doctor.”
Dominic looked at her.
“I don't trust anyone anymore.”
She reached for his hand.
“Then start with yourself.”
His eyes lifted.
“You're still here. You can still make decisions. You can still fight for the life you want.”
Dominic gave a bitter laugh.
“You make everything sound simple.”
“No. I make it sound possible.”
For a long moment, he studied her.
Then he squeezed her hand.
“Find me the best spinal rehabilitation specialist in Chicago.”
Piper smiled.
“Already started.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“You anticipated that?”
“I'm annoyingly efficient when properly motivated.”
That afternoon, Dominic underwent a comprehensive evaluation at a private rehabilitation hospital.
The specialist was careful.
He explained that spinal cord injuries were unpredictable.
Some patients recovered limited movement.
Others didn't.
No responsible doctor could promise Dominic would walk again.
But the specialist found something important.
Dominic had preserved sensation in parts of his legs.
And during testing, he demonstrated a faint voluntary contraction in one thigh.
Dominic stared at the monitor.
“Was that me?”
The specialist nodded.
“Yes.”
Piper covered her mouth.
Dominic looked at her.
For the first time since she'd met him, there was something in his expression she hadn't seen before.
Hope.
Small.
Fragile.
But real.
The specialist recommended an intensive rehabilitation program, medication review, and further imaging.
Dominic agreed.
That evening, Piper found him sitting beside the garden doors.
The curtains were open.
Sunset painted the room gold.
“You're quiet,” she said.
“Enjoy it.”
She smiled.
“Impossible.”
He looked at her.
“Piper.”
“Yes?”
“Why did you really take this job?”
Her smile faded.
He studied her carefully.
“You said you needed money. But there's more.”
Piper looked down.
Her fingers twisted together.
“I'm in debt.”
“How much?”
“Enough.”
“Piper.”
She sighed.
“My father left medical bills. I lost my apartment. And someone keeps calling me about a loan I never took out.”
Dominic's expression changed.
“What loan?”
She hesitated.
“Forty thousand dollars.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Who issued it?”
“A private lender.”
“Name?”
She swallowed.
“Rizzo Financial Services.”
The room went silent.
Dominic slowly turned toward her.
“Say that again.”
Piper's stomach dropped.
“Rizzo Financial Services.”
Dominic reached for his phone.
“Garrett. Find every account connected to Piper Lane.”
Piper stepped backward.
“Dominic, please. I don't want trouble.”
He looked at her.
“You already have trouble.”
She almost laughed at how familiar the words sounded.
Then Garrett called back.
His voice was tense.
“Dominic, we found the loan.”
“And?”
“It wasn't issued to Piper.”
Dominic frowned.
“Then who?”
Garrett hesitated.
“The original borrower was her father.”
Piper's breath caught.
“My dad died five years ago.”
Garrett continued.
“The loan was transferred into her name after his death.”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“Who authorized the transfer?”
A long pause.
Then Garrett answered.
“Vincent Rizzo.”
Piper stared at Dominic.
And suddenly, she understood.
May you like
Her debt hadn't brought her to the Rizzo mansion by accident.
Someone had arranged it.
