The bright fluorescent lights of the Dallas Memorial emergency wing hummed overhead as the medical team wheeled Maria down the corridor. Daniel walked right beside her, holding her cold hand tightly while his personal security team guarded the hallway doors.
Doctor Evans: What is her current pulse and blood pressure, nurse?
Nurse Sandra: Heart rate is elevated at 135, Doctor. Blood pressure is 140 over 90. She's showing signs of severe physical trauma and shock.
Maria: Doctor... is my baby okay? Please check my baby!
Doctor Evans: Lie back, Mrs. Vance. We're putting the ultrasound probe on your abdomen right now. Keep your eyes on Mr. Vance and try to relax.
Daniel: I'm right here, Maria. Look at me, sweetheart. Just look at me.
Maria: Victoria pinned me so hard against that mirror... I thought she was going to crush my stomach...
Daniel: She will pay for every tear you shed today, Maria. I promise you on my life, she will never see the light of day as a free woman again.
A loud, rhythmic beating sound suddenly echoed through the ultrasound speaker inside the trauma room. Doctor Evans adjusted the dial on the monitor, pointing toward a clear image on the dark screen.
Doctor Evans: There's the fetal heartbeat. Strong at 150 beats per minute. The baby's gestational sac is intact, and there's no sign of internal bleeding or placental separation.
Maria: Oh, thank God... thank God...
Daniel: Hear that, my love? Our baby boy is strong. Just like his mother.
Doctor Evans: However, Mr. Vance, due to the physical force applied to her upper body and the severe emotional distress, we are admitting her for forty-eight hours of mandatory bed rest under observation.
Daniel: Assign her to the top floor executive suite. Put four of my private security guards at the door, and do not allow anyone in without my personal authorization.
Doctor Evans: Right away, Mr. Vance. Nurse, prepare the IV fluids and order a mild sedative to help her sleep.
As the nurse adjusted the IV line, a sharp knock sounded on the glass door of the private room. Attorney Marcus Reed, Daniel's head legal counsel, stepped inside holding a thick black leather briefcase.
Marcus: Daniel, I just came from the magistrate's office downtown. Victoria Sterling is currently being held in the central county jail facility.
Daniel: Did her father attempt to post her bail?
Marcus: Arthur Sterling showed up at the station with two defense attorneys, demanding her immediate release on bond. But I presented the high-definition security footage from your mansion hallway to the presiding judge.
Daniel: What did the judge decide?
Marcus: Bail was denied. Given the clear video evidence showing unprovoked physical violence against a pregnant woman, the judge classified her as a high-risk violent offender. She will remain in custody until the grand jury indictment next month.
Maria: Marcus... what about her parents? They're going to try to ruin Daniel's business over this...
Marcus: Mrs. Vance, you don't need to worry about the Sterling family anymore. While you were being brought to the hospital, Daniel executed the foreclosure clause on their primary estate and seized their corporate bank accounts.
Daniel: They have nothing left to fight with, Maria. They spent years treating you like a servant, hiding the fact that Arthur stolen your late father's original business shares twenty years ago.
Maria: My father's shares... you found the original trust documents?
Daniel: Every single one of them. The entire Sterling empire was built on stolen money that belonged to your family. Today, we took it all back.