Richard: "Look at him... he's still trembling. We need to get him to the hospital right now to check for hypothermia."
Elena: "I'm coming with you. I am not leaving his side for a single second."
Richard: "Of course you are coming. In fact, you are never leaving this house again unless you want to."
Elena looked up from the baby, her eyes widening in surprise as Richard reached out and gently placed a hand over hers.
Elena: "What are you saying, Richard?"
Richard: "When Victoria convinced me to restrict your visitation rights six months ago, I was a fool. She manipulated the legal paperwork and made me think you were unfit."
Elena: "She threatened to ruin my family if I didn't step back! She forced me to sign those custody papers!"
Richard: "I know that now. My private investigators found the payments she made to that crooked judge."
Elena: "So... what happens now?"
Richard: "Tomorrow morning, my legal team is filing for full full-custody restoration in your name. You are his mother, Elena. You showed more courage today than anyone I have ever known."
Tears choked Elena's voice as she pressed her forehead against her baby's small, warm head[cite: 5]. The child had stopped crying, his dark eyes looking up at his mother with trust and affection[cite: 5].
Elena: "Thank you, Richard... thank you for giving me my son back."
Richard: "You don't have to thank me. I owe you my life, and so does he."
Richard stood up, offering his hand to help Elena rise from the wet floor[cite: 5]. Together, they walked past the shattered glass tank and stepped out into the warm Florida air, heading straight toward the waiting emergency vehicle[cite: 5].
The nightmare that had almost taken their baby's life was finally over, but the road to rebuilding their family was just beginning[cite: 5].