Chapter 10 - Money Doesn't Own the Ward
"He can't do that to her," Marcus said when he saw the broadcast.
Jonathan Vance was waiting in the conference room with the hospital's chief financial officer.
"Willa's treatment doesn't depend on Claudio's generosity," Jonathan said.
"The unit is funded through multiple sources. Existing patient care continues regardless of a donor's threats."
Marcus sat down hard.
"I thought he could actually shut it down."
"He wanted you to think so."
The hospital released a brief statement confirming that patient care would not be interrupted and that it would not discuss an individual patient's records.
Khloe watched from her room.
"Good," she said. "Don't give him our baby as a headline."
Detective Brooks called with additional findings.
The Rossi family office had hired a crisis consultant four days before the assault.
That wasn't illegal by itself.
What mattered was the draft document the consultant had been asked to prepare.
Its heading read: THORNE DOMESTIC INCIDENT ā PATIENT INSTABILITY RESPONSE.
"They wrote a statement before there was an incident," Dana said.
"We still have to establish who ordered the language and what they anticipated."
Khloe stared at her daughter's latest photograph.
"They planned to say I was dangerous before I was ever hurt."
Marcus stood quietly beside the door.
"Khloe, I gave Isabella the benefit of every doubt. I even told her you were anxious about the pregnancy."
She looked up sharply.
"You told her private things about me?"
"Not medical details. I said you were tired and worried."
"And she turned that into a weapon."
Marcus nodded, unable to defend it.
Khloe swallowed the anger rising in her throat.
"Then I need you to do one thing for me."
May you like
"Anything."
"Move out of our house until I decide whether I still trust you."
