THE EDGE OF SIGHT

Dr. Martin Keller arrived at 1:00 PM in a sleek German sedan. He was a portly man with a thinning comb-over and an overly theatrical bedside manner.

Vincent ushered him into the sunroom where Julian sat waiting.

"Julian, my boy!" Keller boomed, placing a clammy hand on Julian’s shoulder. "Let’s take a look at those optical pathways, shall we?"

Julian sat completely still as Keller shone a penlight directly into his eyes. Julian forced himself not to blink, relaxing his pupils into a fixed, glassy stare—a technique he had practiced for hours in front of the clinic mirrors.

"Severe optic nerve atrophy, complete lack of pupillary reflex to direct luminescence," Keller recited loudly for the recording device on the table. "I conclude that the patient suffers from permanent, irreversible sensory blindness, accompanied by severe cognitive trauma resulting from the estate fire."

Vincent smiled from the corner, leaning against the doorframe with folded arms. "And his capacity to manage the family assets, Doctor?"

"Non-existent," Keller declared smoothly. "Under Section 4 of the probate code, full conservatorship must be granted to the surviving legal guardian—Vincent Vance."

Vincent stepped forward, producing a stack of legal documents and an ink pad. "Just your thumbprint right here on the line, Julian. To make sure you’re taken care of forever."

Julian raised his trembling right hand, guiding his thumb toward the black ink pad. But as he pressed down, he deliberately angled his thumb across the wrong line, smearing the ink across the signature section of the transfer deed.

"Careful, you idiot," Vincent barked instinctively, his facade slipping for a split second before he caught himself. "Sorry... I just want to ensure everything is orderly, Jules. Let's do it on the secondary copy."