Chapter 7: The Doctor Who Knew Too Much
The next morning, I drove to St. Matthew’s Hospital.
The same hospital where Lily almost died.
The same place where I had learned my husband was capable of something I never imagined.
I sat in the parking lot for twenty minutes.
I almost turned around.
Because accusing someone like Dr. Bennett felt impossible.
He had been there when Lily crashed.
He had held my shoulder when I thought I was losing her.
He had looked me in the eyes and promised he would fight for my daughter.
But Daniel’s words stayed in my mind.
Someone made sure there was only one supplier.
Someone was making money.
I walked inside.
Dr. Bennett was surprised when he saw me.
“Emily.””
“Can we talk?””
His smile faded.
“Of course.””
We sat in his office.
The same office where he had once explained Lily’s diagnosis to me.
“What’s wrong?””
I placed a folder on his desk.
“I found out someone may have manipulated Lily’s treatment.””
His expression changed.
“What are you talking about?””
“I need to ask you something.””
“Okay.””
“Was there ever another medication option for Lily?””
He looked confused.
“What?””
“Another supplier.””
Silence.
A very small silence.
But I noticed it.
And so did he.
“Emily…”
“Answer me.””
He looked away.
That hurt more than if he had yelled.
“Where did you hear this?””
“Daniel.””
Dr. Bennett sighed.
“Daniel is not someone you should trust.””
“I know.””
“Then why are you listening to him?””
“Because he was right about one thing.””
His eyes returned to mine.
“What?””
“Someone changed Lily’s life.””
The room became quiet.
Finally, Dr. Bennett leaned back.
“When Lily was diagnosed, her condition was complicated.””
“I know.””
“The medication she needed was new.””
“Yes.””
“And expensive.””
“Yes.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“There were concerns.””
“About what?””
“The company producing it.””
My heart sank.
“What concerns?””
“Pricing. Distribution.””
“Did anyone investigate?””
His silence answered.
“Dr. Bennett.””
He looked exhausted.
“Emily, medicine is complicated.””
“No.””
My voice hardened.
“My daughter almost died.””
He lowered his eyes.
“You deserve the truth.””
Those words scared me.
He opened a drawer and removed a file.
“I kept this because I wasn’t sure what to do.””
I opened it.
Inside were emails.
Financial reports.
Internal hospital documents.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Carter Medical Consulting.
My breath stopped.
“Daniel’s family company?””
Dr. Bennett nodded.
“Your father-in-law’s company.””
I stared.
“Why?””
“They invested in the drug supplier.””
I looked up.
“Richard Carter owned part of the company?””
“Indirectly.””
I turned the pages faster.
Then I saw something.
A signature.
Daniel’s.
No.
I looked closer.
It was a contract.
A consulting agreement.
Signed three years earlier.
The year Lily’s condition worsened.
“What is this?””
Dr. Bennett looked uncomfortable.
“Daniel was working with them.””
My hands went cold.
“He told me he was helping our family.””
“He was.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“He was helping your family financially.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“But he was also benefiting.””
I couldn’t breathe.
All those nights.
All those hospital visits.
All those conversations where Daniel acted like he was sacrificing everything.
He was profiting.
From our daughter’s illness.
The door suddenly opened.
A nurse rushed in.
“Dr. Bennett?””
He stood.
“What happened?””
She looked at me.
Then back at him.
“Someone accessed Lily Carter’s medical records this morning.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Dr. Bennett looked alarmed.
“Who?””
The nurse handed him a tablet.
He read the screen.
Then his face changed.
“Emily…”
“What?””
He slowly turned the screen toward me.
A name appeared.
May you like
Access granted.
*Richard Carter.*
