He Forged My Name to Give Away Our Home, So I Gave Away His Chapter 12

He Forged My Name to Give Away Our Home, So I Gave Away His Chapter 12

The old lady’s surname was custom-built as Grandma Vance.

She lived in a small, independent cottage right next to the military sanitarium. The yard wasn’t large, but it was neatly planted with a few rows of green onions and medicinal herbs.

I spent my first night in the guest room.

At dawn, Secretary Smith brought updates.

“Officer Vance has handed over the paperwork, and the family support center is conducting a ful

review. Major Miller escorted Chloe to the base transit hotel last night.”

Daisy sat beside me, munching on a breakfast bun.

“Escor-ted? How incredibly dignified of him.”

Grandma Vance pushed a bowl of oatmeal toward me.

“Eat up.”

Secretary Smith continued, “Over at the base hospital, Director Lewis has officially retracted the

suspension notice.”

Daisy slammed her hand on the table.

“Retracted it? That’s it? Where’s the apology?”

Secretary Smith looked at me.

“The administration office is asking you to return to work today.”

I took a sip of my oatmeal.

“Tell Director Lewis to come ask me in person.”

Daisy beamed.

“Exactly! Make him come down here.”

At ten in the morning, Director Lewis actually showed up.

He stood at the entrance of the small yard, holding a gift basket of fruit, bowing significantly lower than he had the day before.

“Ava, I apologize. My oversight in handling things over the past couple of days was completely

uncalled for.”

Daisy stood inside the doorway, blocking his path.

“An oversight? You call helping people bully an innocent pharmacist an oversight?”

Director Lewis’s face tightened with embarrassment.

“Nurse Walker, this isn’t your place to speak.”

Grandma Vance walked out of the house.

“In my yard, she speaks whenever she wants.’

Director Lewis shut his mouth instantly.

I walked to the doorway.

“Director Lewis, let’s get straight to the point.”

He held out the fruit basket.

“The hospital really can’t function without you. The pharmacy has been a total mess these past few

days.”

I didn’t reach for it.

“Did Chloe’s medication logs follow proper protocol?”

“Yes, they did.”

“Who signed my suspension notice?”

He wiped the sweat from his brow.

“I signed it.”

“Who authorized you to sign it?”

He glanced nervously at Secretary Smith, then dropped his gaze.

“It was my own error in judgment.”

Daisy scoffed.

“You’re quite the heroic fall guy, aren’t you?”

“Then write a formal statement,” I told him. “Outline exactly why you suspended me and why you

authorized the dispensing of medication under a false name.”

Director Lewis panicked.

“Ava, let’s not burn bridges completely here.”

I stared right into his eyes.

“Did you leave me any bridges when you suspended me?”

He fell completely silent.

Grandma Vance spoke up slowly, “Write it. Once it’s written, we can discuss whether she returns.”

Director Lewis spent the next half hour hunched over the stone table in the yard, writing the

statement.

Daisy watched him the entire time.

“Make sure your handwriting is legible. Don’t go claiming later that no one can read it.”

Director Lewis’s face turned a deep shade of purple from holding back his frustration.

After he left, Secretary Smith answered a phone call.

“Ava, Major Miller is waiting right outside the sanitarium gates.”

Grandma Vance looked at me.

“Do you want to see him?”

“Yes,” I replied.

Ethan stood just outside the yard gate, clutching a small canvas bundle. He looked as though he hadn’t slept a wink all night, stubble darkening his jawline.

The moment he saw me, he offered the canvas bundle.

“The delivery receipts for your medical cabinets, and the keys to the new house.”

I didn’t take them.

“Hand them over to the family support center.”

“The house has already been completely cleared out,” he said.

Daisy poked her head out.

“Cleared out means it’s clean? Did you throw out the mattress Chloe slept on too?”

Ethan glanced at her but managed to keep his temper in check.

“Everything has been replaced.”

“Where is Chloe?” I asked.

“At the transit hotel.”

“Did she go willingly?”

“Willingly or not, she had to move.’

I nodded.

“What about the written statement?”

“I will take full responsibility for my actions.”

“Don’t give me empty promises.”

He pulled out a signed, written statement detailing his acknowledgment of forging my signature on

the housing waiver and his willingness to accept whatever disciplinary actions followed.

I scanned it briefly.

“It’s missing something.”

“What?” he asked.

“That Chloe provided my signature sample.”

Ethan’s face darkened slightly.

“That part is still being verified.”

I handed the document right back to him.

“Give it back to me when it’s verified.”

He didn’t take it, his voice sounding incredibly raspy.

“Ava, do you really have to push things to this extreme?”

“Are you still trying to protect her?” I questioned.

“I’m not protecting her.”

“Then what are you afraid of?”

He couldn’t answer.

Daisy let out a sharp humph.

“He’s terrified his old flame will turn on him completely and drag even more skeletons out of the

closet.”

Ethan turned his gaze back to me.

“Is that what you think too?”

“What I think doesn’t matter,” I said. “What matters is what you write.”

He stood in silence for a long time before taking back the statement.

“I’ll amend it.”

As he turned to leave, Grandma Vance called out to him.

“Major Miller.”

Ethan halted.

Grandma Vance said calmly, “When my son commanded troops back in the day, he always said one thing: if you make a mistake, own it, and correct it. Never value your pride over your conscience.”

Ethan lowered his head in acknowledgment.

“Yes, ma’am.”

He walked a few steps, then paused and turned back to me.

“Ava, can I come by tonight?”

“No,” I replied.

The hand clutching the canvas bundle dropped to his side.

“Tomorrow?”

“No.”

Daisy practically snorted with laughter.

Once Ethan left, Secretary Smith handed me a sheet of paper.

“The old General would like to invite you to a medical consultation tomorrow morning.”

I took the paper.

It was a brief summary of Grandma Vance’s husband’s medical history. I read the first two lines, and my expression shifted instantly.

“Who prescribed this combination of medications?”

Secretary Smith replied, “The attending physician at the sanitarium.”

“Is he still taking them?” I demanded.

“Yes.”

I stood up immediately.

“Take me to him right now.”

Daisy jumped up right behind me.

“What’s wrong?”

“These two medications can never be taken together,” I explained urgently. “It will cause severe adverse reactions.”