“And he was a long-time personal friend of my mother,” Alex added grimly. They searched for answers separately. Dr. Vance had retired from the hospital network but still operated a small private practice near the Public Garden. Elena arrived first. She didn’t raise her voice. Instead, she placed the two original lab reports on his desk and asked why Beatrice Vance had been given access to her private medical records.
The elderly doctor took a long time before responding.
Eventually, he confessed that years earlier, Beatrice had called him in a panic over her family’s legacy. He had violated patient confidentiality, telling her that Elena’s initial evaluation appeared difficult. He had also revealed that Alex’s numbers were concerning, but Beatrice had specifically pleaded with him not to tell Alex yet.
“Why?” Elena asked, her chest aching.
Dr. Vance removed his glasses. “Alex’s father had suffered from a similar issue early in life. Beatrice was terrified Alex would feel emasculated or believe the failure was his. She wanted him focused on finding a solution.”
