Chapter 4 - THE HOSPITAL TRANSFER THAT COULD HAVE KILLED HIM
"No one is moving my brother."
My voice echoed through the hospital corridor.
Nurse Amanda raised her hands gently.
"Miss Vance, the transfer hasn't been approved. We noticed the irregularity before anything happened."
I pressed my palm against the wall.
Toby was ten years old.
Ten.
He should have been worrying about video games and homework.
Instead, someone was using his medical condition to manipulate us.
Dante looked at the document.
"Vancel Medical Holdings ceased operations years ago."
Amanda frowned.
"Then why is it requesting a patient transfer?"
Dante's expression hardened.
"Someone is using an old company name."
I turned toward him.
"Your family name."
"Yes."
"And you didn't know?"
"No."
I wanted to scream.
But Toby was sleeping just beyond the door.
I couldn't fall apart where he might hear.
Dante spoke quietly.
"Elena, I understand if you want me to leave."
I looked at him.
Part of me wanted to blame him for everything.
His father's company.
His family's secrets.
The money stolen from Toby.
But Dante was the person helping me uncover it.
"Don't leave," I whispered.
He nodded.
"I won't."
The following morning, the hospital compliance team confirmed that Toby's surgery would remain scheduled at NYU Langone.
They flagged the suspicious authorization and referred it for investigation.
Dante arranged for his attorney to meet me.
Not to control the situation.
To explain my rights.
Her name was Rebecca Sloan.
She reviewed the documents carefully.
"Elena, the forged signatures may be connected to a larger financial fraud. We should preserve every original record."
I nodded.
"What about Toby's surgery?"
"His medical team will make those decisions with you. We can help resolve the administrative issues separately."
For the first time in weeks, I felt something resembling relief.
Then Rebecca asked a question that changed everything.
"Has anyone recently asked you for your brother's birth certificate?"
I frowned.
"No."
"His Social Security card?"
"No."
She looked concerned.
"Have you ever left personal documents at your workplace?"
My stomach dropped.
"Greg keeps copies of our IDs in the manager's office."
Rebecca glanced at Dante.
He immediately took out his phone.
"Marcus, preserve all available workplace records. Coordinate with counsel. No one confronts Greg."
I looked at him.
"You think he's using our identities?"
"We need to establish that."
That afternoon, Rebecca obtained documents showing that Gregory Hale had accessed a private financial assistance portal using my information.
The application had been approved.
The money had been transferred.
Then the recipient account had been emptied.
I felt sick.
"Where did it go?"
Rebecca opened another report.
"The funds passed through two companies before reaching an investment account."
"Whose?"
She hesitated.
Dante leaned forward.
"Tell us."
Rebecca looked at me.
"The final account is registered under a name we've already encountered."
My heart raced.
"Who?"
"Adrian Vance."
I stared at her.
"My father?"
Rebecca nodded.
"According to the records, he's the beneficial owner."
I couldn't breathe.
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The father who supposedly disappeared to protect us was now connected to stolen money meant for his own sick son.
And for the first time, I wondered whether everything my mother had written was a lie.
