Chapter 8: Forty-Three Names
By morning, the hospital boardroom was filled with parents.
Liana placed Elias’s band beside the microphone.
Matteo sat on one side of her, Leah on the other.
A board member adjusted his glasses.
“Mr.
Varric, the foundation can reimburse the affected families.”
“Reimbursement is not enough,” Matteo said.
“What are you proposing?”
“Immediate treatment reviews for every surviving child, paid directly to independent hospitals.
No money passes through St.
Anne’s.”
A mother near the door stood.
“My daughter’s name is on that list.
She needs heart surgery within six weeks.”
Matteo looked at Liana.
She picked up the ledger.
“Her approval was signed eleven months ago.
The money was taken the next day.”
The woman covered her face.
Liana crossed the room and knelt beside her.
“What is your daughter’s name?”
“Ruby.”
“Ruby will be the first case reviewed.”
“You can promise that?”
Matteo pushed a signed document across the table.
“It’s already authorized.”
The woman gripped Liana’s hand and began to cry.
Liana held on until her breathing steadied.
Weeks later, Liana stood in court while Marcus faced the judge.
“Marcus Hale,” the judge said, “you are sentenced to eighteen years for financial fraud, evidence tampering, child endangerment, and conspiracy connected to Sofia Varric’s fatal crash.”
Marcus turned before the officers led him away.
“Matteo would have lost his fortune without me,” he said.
Matteo rose.
“I would rather lose every dollar than become the man you thought I was.”
Marcus looked at Liana one last time.
“You’ll always wonder whether Elias could have survived.”
Liana touched the hospital band around her wrist.
“No,” she said.
“You will spend eighteen years knowing forty-three children received the care you tried to take from them.”
Marcus’s face tightened.
The courtroom door closed behind him.
Dr.
Cole stood next.
“Your medical license is permanently revoked,” the judge said.
“You are sentenced to eight years for falsifying records, fraud, and obstruction.”
Cole turned toward Leah.
“You destroyed your own hospital.”
Leah met his eyes.
“A hospital that sells children’s futures deserves to be rebuilt.”
Outside the courthouse, Walter waited with Jonas.
“The board restored Leah’s nursing credentials,” Walter said.
Leah stared at him.
“You did that?”
“I delivered the unaltered evaluations.”
“You risked your pension.”
Walter shrugged.
“At my age, a clean conscience pays better.”
Leah laughed through her tears and hugged him.
Liana watched until Leah approached her.
“I don’t expect eight years of silence to disappear,” Leah said.
“It won’t.”
“I should have called you.”
“Yes.”
“I was afraid.”
“I know.”
Leah’s mouth trembled.
“Is there room for me in your life?”
Liana opened her arms.
Leah fell against her, sobbing into her shoulder.
Liana held her sister with one hand and pressed Elias’s band between them with the other.
“You don’t get to disappear again,” Liana whispered.
“I won’t.”
“Even when I’m angry?”
“Especially then.”
Matteo stood a few steps away with Nico.
The baby reached toward both sisters and squealed.
Leah wiped her eyes.
May you like
“He still remembers the lullaby.”
“Then sing it with me,” Liana said.
