Chapter 5

The next morning, Tyler took Margaret's medical chart straight to the Patient Relations Department to file a formal complaint, accusing me of professional misconduct.

Dr. Reynolds immediately called us all into a conference room for mediation.

Margaret was parked in her wheelchair in the corner, her eyes closed as she pretended to be semi-conscious.

Two social workers, Mrs. Gable and Mr. Miller, were also invited as neutral witnesses.

Dr. Reynolds took a sip of his coffee and tapped the table.

"Dr. Vance, you are one of our top talents. But medical ethics are closely tied to personal integrity. This family dispute is harming the hospital's reputation."

"You need to look at the bigger picture."

Tyler sat with his legs crossed, looking incredibly smug.

He pushed the agreement and a premium nursing home quote to the center of the table.

"Dr. Reynolds, we're reasonable people," Tyler said grandly. "As long as she signs these documents, guaranteeing she will cover all of Mom's future expenses,"

"And pays us a $50,000 deposit today, I will take Mom and leave immediately. No more trouble for the hospital."

Uncle Richard chimed in from the side: "Exactly. This is the best way to protect your career. Spend a little money to buy peace, Chloe. Don't be petty with your own blood."

Margaret wept quietly: "Chloe, please sign... save your mother. Your brother doesn't have a real job. He's struggling..."

Dr. Reynolds, believing that paying them off was the easiest way to make the problem go away, picked up the pen and offered it to me.

The two social workers whispered to each other.

"She makes good money as a doctor. Spending fifty grand to buy peace is worth it."

"Her own mother is begging her. Staying stubborn just makes her look heartless."

Everyone in the room looked at me, expecting me to break under the pressure and write the check.

Tyler leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with greed.

I stood at the end of the long table, looking at the papers. My expression was completely blank.

I reached out and picked up the stack of documents.

Dr. Reynolds sighed in relief, and a massive grin spread across Tyler's face.

But I didn't take the pen.

I flipped through the papers until my fingers rested on the very last pagea document that definitely did not belong to the nursing home agreement.

I paused, a cold smile forming on my lips.

I took that document, which bore a bright red legal seal, and slammed it face-down on the table.