“For now,” I said.
He moved closer to the bed.
“Your mother said this was minor.”
I glanced at my sling.
“My car was totaled.”
Dad cleared his throat. “Claire was extremely upset. That ticket could affect her insurance.”
Marcus raised his eyebrows.
“A $385 ticket?”
Dad froze.
For the first time, he seemed to realize how absurd he sounded.
Then his phone rang.
He checked the screen.
The Reed Medical procurement director.
Dad’s company was competing for a packaging contract worth nearly $4 million.
He answered immediately.
“Hello?”
I could hear only his side.
“Yes.”
“No, I’m at the hospital.”
Then his expression tightened.
“What review?”
He ended the call and faced Marcus.
“They said our supplier application is being reassessed.”
Marcus stayed calm.
“Your company listed you as personally supervising safety compliance. Procurement found certifications that require verification.”
Dad narrowed his eyes. “Is this because of her?”
“No,” Marcus said. “Your daughter’s accident has nothing to do with your bid.”
“But your behavior here tells me I was right not to intervene for you.”
Dad stared at me.
“You told him about the contract?”
“No.”
Marcus stepped between us.
“She did the opposite. She refused to recommend a family member because she considered it a conflict of interest.”
That landed harder than any shouting could have.
Then the nurse entered with my discharge papers.
Mom and Claire followed behind her.
Claire saw Marcus and whispered, “Oh my God.”
Dad turned toward her.
“You said she just needed someone to pick her up!”
The room fell silent after Dad shouted.
Claire’s eyes filled with tears.
Mom snapped, “Do not blame your sister.”
Marcus handed the discharge papers back to the nurse and said, “I’ll wait outside.”
Dad lowered his voice.
“I didn’t know it was this serious.”
“You didn’t ask,” I said.
He opened his mouth, then closed it.
Mom tried explaining that Claire had been panicking about points on her license, higher insurance costs, and Dad’s anger.
I listened.
Then I asked one question.
“When the hospital called, did anyone ask what happened to me?”
No one answered.
That was answer enough.
I went home that night with Lena, not my parents.
