His breathing was shallow, his shoulders rigid under his wet coat.

“Then explain it to me,” I said. “Explain why you are running an illegal medical trial in our home.”

“If the state finds out about her condition, they will take her away,” he said.

He stepped even closer, his eyes searching mine.

“They will lock her in a state facility,” he continued. “They will put her in a ward and let her rot.”

His voice was urgent, filled with a strange intensity.

“I am her son,” he said. “It is my duty to protect her from that.”

I looked at him, and for the first time, I didn’t see the brilliant surgeon I had married.

I saw a man who was terrified of losing control over his secrets.

“Is that why you increased the dosage when she talked about the fire?” I asked.

Nathan’s face went completely pale.

The silence in the room became heavy and suffocating.

Outside, the rain began to beat harder against the windowpane.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.