6:00 PM. St. Nicholas Hospital.

The sun was setting, casting long, bruised shadows across the hospital room.

Aria walked down the hallway, her heels clicking softly on the linoleum. She had changed out of her boardroom attire into a soft, cream-colored cardigan and jeans—the costume of the concerned sister. In her hand, she carried a thermos of homemade pepper soup.

She reached Room 4.

She reached for the handle, expecting to walk right in as she always did.

The door was locked.

Aria frowned. She knocked lightly.

“Mom? It’s me.”

There was a pause. A long, heavy silence. Then, the lock clicked. The door opened just a crack.

Mrs. Carter...