The red flashing lights of the ambulance cast rapid shadows across the highway as it sped toward Dallas General Hospital.
Inside the back of the emergency vehicle, Marcus held Chloe's hand tightly, tears streaming down his face as the heart monitor beeped rapidly beside her bed.
Marcus: Keep holding my hand, baby. We're almost there.
Chloe: Marcus... what if something happened to our boy? The pressure on my stomach was so heavy...
Marcus: He's strong, Chloe. He has your strength. Just focus on breathing for me, okay?
Paramedic Sarah: Her heart rate is climbing, but the baby's fetal heartbeat is still detectable. We need an immediate ultrasound room ready the second we pull into the bay!
Marcus: Is he going to be okay, doctor?! Tell me the truth!
Paramedic Sarah: We're doing everything we can, sir. The trauma team is waiting for us at the ER entrance.
The ambulance screeched to a halt outside the emergency bay doors. The back doors burst open, and three doctors in blue scrubs rushed out to pull the stretcher into the building.
Dr. Vance: What do we have?
Paramedic Sarah: Twenty-four-year-old female, seven months pregnant, suffered direct blunt force trauma to the abdomen from an assault!
Dr. Vance: Get her to Trauma Room 3 immediately! Prep for an emergency ultrasound and fetal monitoring!
Marcus ran alongside the stretcher down the long hallway, the fluorescent lights blurring above him.
Marcus: I love you, Chloe! I'm right outside!
Chloe: Marcus!
The heavy metal doors of Trauma Room 3 swung shut, locking Marcus out in the waiting corridor. He collapsed into a vinyl chair, burying his face in his hands as he let out a choked sob.
Footsteps echoed down the hall as an elderly woman wearing a pearl necklace and an elegant blue dress hurried toward him.
Margaret: Marcus! My sweet boy!
Marcus: Mother... you got my call?
Margaret: I came as fast as I could from the country club! Oh my goodness, Marcus, is Chloe alright?! What happened at the house?!
Marcus: It was Evelyn, Mother. She attacked Chloe. She stepped on her stomach on the living room floor[cite: 1].
Margaret gasped, her hands flying to her mouth as her eyes filled with tears of absolute horror.
Margaret: Evelyn... did that to a pregnant woman?! Her own sister-in-law?!
Marcus: She thought Chloe was trying to steal the estate trust fund, Mother. She went completely insane.
Margaret: That foolish, greedy girl! I knew she was bitter about her father's will, but to attack a child... she has completely lost her humanity!
Marcus: I slapped her, Mother[cite: 1]. I lost my temper and I hit my own sister[cite: 1].
Margaret wrapped her arms tightly around her son's shoulders, holding him close as he wept.
Margaret: You protected your wife and your unborn son, Marcus. You did what any real man would do in that horrific moment.