Clara: "Are you going to fire me, Mr. Vance?"
Julian: "Fire you? Clara, you just saved my son's life."
Julian walked over to the plush velvet sofa in the main living hall and sat down, carefully looking over the newborn's tiny face.
Julian: "I can't believe I was so blind. I was working eighty hours a week while she was planning all of this."
Clara: "She forced me to sign a non-disclosure agreement before the doctor did the procedure. She threatened to destroy my family if I spoke up."
Julian: "That agreement is completely illegal and void. She forced you into a dangerous fraud scheme."
Clara stepped closer, her hands folded nervously over her apron as she watched Julian gently stroke the baby's soft cheek.
Clara: "I never wanted her money, Mr. Vance. I only took the contract because my younger sister needed money for her heart surgery."
Julian: "Your sister's medical bills will be paid in full by my estate starting today. You don't owe anyone a single dollar."
Clara: "Mr. Vance... you don't have to do that."
Julian: "I do. You risked your own body to catch him when he fell. You protected him like a real mother."
Clara covered her mouth, a fresh wave of quiet tears falling down her face as she looked at her baby boy.
Julian: "He belongs with you, Clara. Not in a nursery with paid strangers, and certainly not with a monster like Evelyn."
Clara: "What are you saying?"
Julian: "I want us to file for joint legal custody. I want you to raise him here, with me, as his mother."
Clara: "As... his mother? But I'm just your housemaid."
Julian: "Not anymore. Take off that apron, Clara."
Clara reached behind her waist and unknotted the white strings, letting the heavy cloth apron fall onto the floor. Julian stood up from the sofa and gently placed the baby back into her waiting arms.
Julian: "From this moment on, you are family in this house. Nobody will ever treat you like a servant again."
Clara: "Thank you, Julian... thank you so much."
She held the baby close to her chest, feeling his warm breath against her neck as he finally fell fast asleep.
Julian: "What should we name him?"
Clara: "Leo. I've always wanted to name him Leo."
Julian: "Leo Vance. It sounds perfect."
A car door slammed loudly out in the driveway, followed by the sound of heavy tires rolling over the gravel as the police vehicle pulled away from the grand estate.
Julian: "She's gone for good, Clara. He's safe now."
Clara: "We're both safe now."