My Fiancé Stole My Research for His Mistress—Now I Judge Their Daughter

Chapter 4

Before the formal meeting, my assistant led me to a small lounge beside the conference room.

The attorneys and Ethics Committee members had not yet arrived. Vivian stood by the window while Ethan was answering a phone call.

As soon as I entered, Vivian looked me up and down.

"I've been wondering how an ER doctor from a rural county hospital—with no family connections and no one financing her career—managed to become chair of this committee."

Her gaze dropped to my nameplate, and she smiled. "Whose office did you sneak into after hours? Whose bed? And how many? I suppose only you know."

Ethan ended his call. He made no attempt to stop her.

"That's what she's always done best," he said. "She calls ambition love and revenge justice. She couldn't marry me 22 years ago, so now she's punishing our daughter. Marianne, you haven't changed. You're still vain, bitter, and dishonest."

I gave him no answer.

At that moment, the conference room door opened, and the attorneys entered with Harold.

Vivian immediately smoothed her cuffs and put on a gracious smile, as if she had never said a word.

Once the meeting began, Harold gestured toward my seat.

"The Coles contend that your prior relationship with the applicant's father should have disqualified you from taking part in this review."

Their attorney continued. "You failed to disclose a conflict of interest and formally recuse yourself. Your decision should therefore be vacated."

"I did disclose it."

The room quieted.

I faced the Coles. "Before the review began, I disclosed my history with Ethan in writing and asked the Foundation's ethics counsel whether I should recuse myself. Counsel concluded that a relationship that ended 22 years ago did not require recusal, provided I documented the basis for my decision and submitted it for independent review. I did both."

Something flickered across Ethan's face.

Harold tapped the table. "Whatever the circumstances, this controversy is damaging the Foundation's reputation."

Vivian slid three documents into the center of the table. "Effective today, the Hale Medical Foundation is suspending all donations to this program. St. Catherine will also suspend its clinical-data partnership unless Dr. Bennett's decision is withdrawn."

She adjusted one cuff and smiled.

"You really want the press digging into how you got this job? Because they will. We won't have to make a single accusation ourselves."

"Fine," I said. "I want a public hearing. Stream it live. Require every committee member to appear under their own name, and release every communication concerning donations to this program."

The public-relations adviser frowned. "Once this becomes public, there will be no taking it back."

"That's precisely the point."

Vivian studied me for several seconds but said nothing more.

After the meeting, my assistant hurried to catch up with me.

"Dr. Bennett, a tabloid with long-standing ties to the Hale Medical Foundation posted a teaser 10 minutes ago."

She handed me her phone.

The headline filled the screen:

"Did Dr. Marianne Bennett Sleep Her Way to the Top?"

Ethan passed close behind me and lowered his voice. "Once this spreads, you'll be the same hysterical woman no one believed 22 years ago."

I turned to him. "And what will you be? The man who gave false testimony to destroy her?"

His face blanched.

Harold pulled the conference room door shut behind us. "By tomorrow morning, this will be the biggest story in the national medical press. Have you given any thought to how you're going to contain it?"

I opened the door and glanced back at him.

"Harold, I have no intention of containing it."

I wanted the scandal to become impossible to ignore.