"I have to avoid conflicts of interest because I'm family, but she can get personally involved with strangers? How noble."
I scoffed.
Mom had saved plenty of charity cases over the years, but Max Dickerson was her pet project. To him, she was Dr. Henson—the saint with golden hands, the "Most Beautiful Doctor" lauded by the media.
To me, she was barely a mother at all.
A heart only has so much room. When it's packed full of patients, what space is left for family?
"Your mom is just doing her job," Uncle Richard stammered. "You're her flesh and blood; you should understand her better than anyone..."
A sharp spasm seized my chest. I fumbled for the pill bottle in my pocket, dry-swallowing two tablets before the pain could floor me.
"Uncle Richard, do you know why Mom banned me from her department?"
"Why?"
"Because she's terrified of gossip. Scared people will say she's using her position for personal gain, or that she favors her own child." I steadied my breath. "That's why my records are at a different hospital. My own attending physician doesn't even know I'm Paige Henson's daughter."