An hour later, Dr. Evans finished bandaging Ellen's arm in the living room, prescribing pain medication and burn ointment.
Dr. Evans: She's going to be fine, Gabriel, but she needs to keep this area clean and rested for at least two weeks. No household work.
Gabriel: Thank you, Doctor. Bill everything directly to my personal account.
Ellen: Mr. Gabriel, I can still work with my left hand... I don't want to lose my job...
Gabriel: Ellen, listen to me. You are taking two weeks off with full pay. You don't have to worry about a single thing.
Ellen: You're too kind, sir. Most bosses would have covered it up for their fiancée.
Gabriel: Cruelty isn't something I protect, Ellen. No matter who it comes from.
Gabriel's phone rang on the dining table. He picked it up, seeing the name of his chief legal advisor, Arthur Pendelton.
Gabriel: Arthur. I assume you heard about what happened.
Arthur: Gabriel, Richard Sterling just called my office screaming. He's threatening to pull his thirty percent capital from the Dallas estate project if you don't drop the charges against Vanessa.
Gabriel: Tell him to pull it. In fact, initiate the buyout clause immediately.
Arthur: Buyout clause? Gabriel, that will cost you fifteen million dollars in liquid cash!
Gabriel: Do it. I am severing all legal and financial ties with the Sterling family today.
Arthur: Are you sure? That's a massive financial strain on your firm.
Gabriel: I have the video evidence of his daughter committing felony assault on my estate property. If Richard wants to go to war in court, tell him I'll release the raw footage to the national news outlets before noon.
Arthur paused on the other end of the line, letting out a long breath.
Arthur: Understood, Gabriel. I'll draft the severance papers right now. Richard won't risk his company's stock price if he knows you have that video.
Gabriel: Good. Make sure the engagement prenup is nullified as well. I want her name off every contract connected to my name.
Gabriel hung up the phone and walked back over to the dining table. He looked down at the diamond wedding ring sitting alone on the dark wood surface.
He picked up the expensive ring, walked over to the trash bin by the side bar, and tossed it inside without a second thought.