Emma picked up the documents Patricia had tried to grab from the table.
The first page showed a check.
Patricia’s name was printed on it.
$2,400.
The payment had been made to Emma’s obstetric clinic six months earlier.
There were several more payments behind it.
Emma frowned.
“You told me these appointments were covered by Ryan’s insurance.”
Ryan looked uncomfortable.
“Most of them were.”
“Most?”
“My plan has a high deductible.”
Emma stared at him.
“You told me we had everything handled.”
“We did.”
“With your mother’s money?”
Ryan nodded.
Emma slowly looked at Patricia.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
Patricia lifted her chin.
“Because you would have made a big deal about accepting help.”
Emma looked down at the paperwork again.
“That isn’t what my doctor just called me about.”
“No,” Ryan said quietly.
He reached into the envelope and removed several printed screenshots.
They were text conversations.
The same name appeared repeatedly.
Marcy.
I recognized it immediately.
Patricia had mentioned Marcy before.
They had worked together years earlier when Patricia was still a nurse.
Patricia had retired six years ago.
Marcy, however, was currently employed at Emma’s obstetric practice.
Emma began reading.
Within seconds, one hand flew to her mouth.
“What the hell is this?”
I turned toward Ryan.
“What did your mother do?”
He didn’t take his eyes off Patricia.
“She’s been getting information from Emma’s medical chart.”
Several guests gasped.
Patricia immediately protested.
“That’s not what happened.”
Ryan turned toward her.
“Then explain it.”
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