*Dear Elizabeth,* it read. *I wanted to give you a personal heads-up.*

*The committee met this afternoon and formally rejected Jason’s application.*

*His GPA and MCAT scores were simply too far below our threshold, and his interview feedback was highly concerning.*

*I understand he was also rejected from the state program today.*

*I’m sorry we couldn’t make it work, but the decision was unanimous.*

I closed the email.

The puzzle pieces clicked into place.

Patricia had received the rejection letters this afternoon.

She realized her threats had failed, and Jason’s future in medicine was over.

This video was her immediate retaliation.

She wanted to destroy my career because I hadn’t saved his.

The phone buzzed in my hand again, the screen displaying Mara’s name.

I answered immediately.

“Elizabeth, have you seen the news site?” Mara asked.

Her voice was breathless, filled with the static of her car’s Bluetooth speaker.

“I just watched it,” I said.

“It’s a hit job,” Mara said. “Anyone who knows you knows that’s not who you are.”

“The hospital board won’t care about who I am if the public thinks I’m a monster, Mara.”