CHAPTER 286: NOTHING SERIOUS

"Good morning, everyone. I hope we’re not late," the architect greeted warmly as he entered the room, another person trailing just behind him.

Nick and Georgia both stood to welcome them, hands extended in greeting.

"Oscar, good to see you," Nick said with an easy smile. "You’re right on time."

Oscar returned the handshake and gestured toward the woman beside him. "This is Keira—my wife and our firm’s lead interior designer. She’s the creative one who makes everything look better than I planned it."

Keira smiled, poised yet friendly. "It’s lovely to meet all of you. I’ll make sure to bring everyone’s ideas into the design—each room should feel like it truly belongs to you."

Before anyone could respond, Katie’s small voice broke through the air. "Can I have a dollhouse in my room too?" she asked, her excitement bubbling over.

The room was filled with soft laughter.

"Of course you can, sweetheart," Georgia said, tousling Katie’s hair playfully. "But let’s let Keira and Oscar talk to Nanna Wendy first, alright? So, Nanna can rest after. Then we can plan your dollhouse together."

Katie nodded eagerly, got off the bed, and went to the sofa, bouncing slightly on her heels.

Georgia turned back to the design team. "Keira, Oscar—Wendy is like a mother to me, and she practically lives in the kitchen. Please coordinate with her directly for the layout and space planning. I want her to have everything she needs there."

Then she looked toward Wendy, her tone softening. "I’ve actually told Nick that I’d like you to move into the main house instead of staying in the staff quarters. You’re family, and... well, you deserve to be close to us. You’re not getting any younger, and I’d feel better knowing you’re nearby."

Wendy smiled, eyes glistening slightly. "Oh, dear, I was about to suggest the same thing. It would be lovely to be closer, and I’d get to spend more time with little Katie."

"Perfect," Georgia said, relieved. She stood and smoothed her blouse. "Alright then, I’ll leave you all for a bit. I just need to speak with your doctor, Wendy. I’ll be right back."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Nick asked, his gaze quietly searching hers.

She shook her head. "No need. It’ll be quick, and the bodyguards are with me anyway."

Nick nodded, though his eyes lingered on her a moment longer—watchful, protective, as always.

As Georgia stepped out of the room, the murmur of conversation behind her faded. She quickly took her phone from her bag while the bodyguards followed her.

She called Melanie, returning the message she had missed earlier. "I’m sorry, I just saw your text. I’m at the hospital right now. What’s the urgent matter you wanted to tell me about?" Georgia asked as she walked down the quiet corridor toward Wendy’s doctor’s office.

"The accountant found something odd," Melanie began, her tone low but urgent. "There’s a payroll account that looks legitimate at first, but then he discovered another one under expenses—registered under a business with a nearly identical name.

He dug deeper and found both were shut down around the same time Irene and Frank disappeared. And the money that went through them wasn’t small. It seems those accounts were active during the same period your brother boarded the ship, right before his death."

Georgia’s steps slowed, her fingers tightening around the phone.

"There’s more," Melanie continued. "The accountant wants to show you everything himself. From what we’ve seen, it all seems tied to your brother’s death and to Irene and Frank. Can you come by today?"

"Yes," Georgia replied firmly. "After I meet Wendy’s doctor and the architects, I’ll head straight there. Tell him to wait for me and have lunch ready. I have a feeling this won’t be a short discussion."

She ended the call just as she reached the doctor’s office door, a faint unease curling in her stomach.

Georgia knocked softly before stepping into the doctor’s office. The head doctor, a calm-looking man in his fifties, stood up from his desk with a polite smile and gestured for her to sit.

"Mrs. Knight, please have a seat," he said, flipping through Wendy’s chart. "I was just reviewing her latest test results."

"How is she doing, doctor?" Georgia asked, sitting across from him, her tone steady but her eyes quietly searching for reassurance.

The doctor adjusted his glasses and smiled. "Much better than we initially expected. Her stab wound is healing well, no sign of infection, and her vitals have been stable. If everything continues as it is, we can discharge her in about five days."

Georgia exhaled a small breath of relief, her shoulders easing. "That’s wonderful to hear."

"However," the doctor continued, his tone turning more measured, "we’ll still need to monitor her blood pressure. It’s been fluctuating a little, which is normal considering the trauma and stress she went through, but something to keep an eye on once she’s home."

Georgia nodded. "Of course. We’ll make sure she takes it easy. Is it safe for her to move around the house? She’s not the kind of woman who can sit still for too long."

The doctor chuckled softly. "I can tell. But yes, she can move around in moderation. Light activities are fine, but no heavy lifting, no long hours on her feet, and she should avoid getting too tired."

Georgia hesitated before asking, "Cooking is something she loves. Would it be alright if she still did that once in a while?"

"As long as she’s not standing for too long or doing everything by herself," the doctor said with a reassuring smile. "It would actually be good for her mental health to do something she enjoys, considering what she went through, just make sure someone’s there to help her."

Georgia smiled faintly. "Then I’ll make sure she has help. Thank you, doctor."

He nodded, closing the folder. "She’s lucky to have someone like you looking after her, Mrs. Knight."

Georgia’s expression softened. "No, doctor. We’re the lucky ones to have her."

With that, she stood, thanked him once more, her mind already shifting between relief for Wendy’s recovery and the unsettling discoveries Melanie had just told her about.

But before she could step out of the room, the doctor called her back. "Mrs. Knight, are you feeling better these days?"

Georgia frowned and said, "Yes, just a bit tired, there’s so much that’s going on."

The doctor stood up and approached her. "Do you mind me checking your pulse? You’re quite pale as well," the doctor said.

Georgia smiled and extended her hand. The doctor quickly checked her pulse while looking at his watch.

He then took a pen and paper, wrote something, and gave it to Georgia. "This is my wife’s clinic. Please, when you get a chance, visit her. And do it as soon as possible. Much better if today, before you leave," the doctor said, making Georgia more curious.

"Doc, you’re making me nervous. What is it about?" she asked.

"Oh, don’t worry, nothing serious, but it’s urgent that you see her. She’s the expert, so I can’t tell you what I think. I will call her after this so she can confirm my findings with you," the doctor said.

"Alright, I understand. Thank you. I’ll make sure to meet her today, then," Georgia said before stepping out of the room.

The doctor may seem weird, but her mind quickly shifted back to what Melanie said. If that account is related to her brother’s death, then they are very close to finding the true killer of her brother.

*******

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