“Claire…” Marcus stammered, looking up, his voice losing all its previous command. “There’s… there must be a misunderstanding here. Your father never mentioned anything like this.”

“My father knew you better than I did, Marcus,” Claire said quietly, looking him directly in the eye.

She turned to face the assembled board members. “Effective immediately, the proposed sale to Collins Capital is canceled. An independent audit team will review all financial transactions made by the administrative office over the last two years. Sabrina Collins’s consulting contract with this hospital is terminated immediately, effective today.”

Sabrina looked at Marcus, her expression turning sharp and frantic. “Marcus, do something! Tell them this isn’t legal!”

Marcus couldn’t speak. He remained standing, staring at the woman he had tried to humiliate just twenty-four hours earlier.

Claire looked at her husband one last time, her expression completely calm.

“You told me yesterday that I was fired, Marcus,” Claire said softly. “Now, as the primary trustee of Northlake Medical Center, I am placing you on administrative leave without pay, effective immediately. Please clear out your office by five o’clock.”

Without waiting for a response, Claire turned and walked out of the boardroom, ready to return to the work that truly mattered.