Chapter 6 - DR. HALE’S PART
Dr. Hale finally spoke.
He had not slept with anyone.
Had not invented the affair.
Had not planned to humiliate Mara.
His betrayal was quieter.
He approved the consulting payments.
Why?
Northpoint promised to retain him as medical director after the management transition.
At double his current compensation.
He told himself the deal would stabilize the center.
He told himself private capital could expand beds.
He told himself Mara was too idealistic.
Then he violated procurement rules.
He let Adrian bring Northpoint consultants into administrative meetings without board approval.
He provided occupancy data that should not have left internal systems.
Most seriously, he allowed Adrian unusual access to Celeste during treatment.
Not confidential therapy sessions.
But enough social contact to be ethically troubling.
Adrian joined “family planning” meetings.
Then private discharge-planning conversations.
Dr. Hale knew they were becoming close.
He did nothing.
Mara asked:
“Did you know they were sleeping together?”
His silence answered.
Celeste closed her eyes.
Adrian looked irritated.
Dr. Hale whispered:
“I thought disclosure after discharge would be cleaner.”
Mara stared at him.
May you like
“Cleaner for whom?”
He had no answer.
