Chapter 5 - Sixty-One Paychecks
The state could not investigate unless someone with standing reported the diversion. As Vance's COO and Ethan's wife, I had standing and reason to stay quiet. Our house, June's insurance, and sixty-one paychecks were tied to the center's survival. Ethan sat beside my bed and spoke softly about corrective training, never saying he was sorry. "If you file, the bank can freeze our credit line," he said. "June may need years of therapy." He knew exactly where to press. I signed the patient-safety complaint anyway and disclosed my ownership stake. The act triggered a mandatory review, suspended elective deliveries, and barred Ethan from entering my chart. By dinner, three nurses had lost scheduled shifts. Caleb texted only, Thank you, then deleted the message from the shared staff thread before anyone could answer. I protected future patients, but the cost arrived in names I knew: a lactation consultant with twins, a scrub tech behind on rent, and Paige, Ethan's sister, who handled payroll.
