Three days later, the morning news anchor's voice filled the living room of the penthouse as the large television screen displayed a live broadcast from the city district courthouse.
News Anchor: In a shocking turn of events, socialite Eleanor Sterling was taken into federal custody earlier this morning following a massive financial audit into the Sterling Children's Foundation. Prosecutors have charged her with twelve counts of wire fraud, grand larceny, and corporate embezzlement.
Chloe sat on the soft velvet sofa, her leg propped up comfortably on a plush ottoman. Mark sat beside her, holding a cup of hot herbal tea in his hand as they watched the broadcast together.
Chloe: Did your father post her bail money?
Mark: He tried to. But the judge froze all their joint accounts after the prosecutor presented the evidence of her offshore transfer attempts. She's staying in the county holding facility until the trial begins.
Chloe: It feels surreal... to see her in those orange jumpsuit pictures after how powerful she acted in this room.
Mark: Power built on lies always collapses, Chloe. She spent her whole life looking down on people, believing her money made her untouchable.
Chloe: What about your father? Is he facing charges too?
Mark: He agreed to step down from the board of directors permanently and forfeit his executive pension to avoid co-conspiracy charges. He's moving to their estate in Vermont by the end of the week.
Chloe: Are you going to see him before he leaves?
Mark: No. He stood by and watched a pregnant woman get hurt because he was afraid of his wife. He doesn't deserve a place in our daughter's life.
A soft knock sounded at the living room entrance, and Dr. Harrison walked in holding a digital tablet and a small medical bag.
Dr. Harrison: Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling. I'm here for the follow-up check on those knee stitches.
Mark: Come on in, Doctor. How is the wound looking today?
Dr. Harrison: Let's take a look.
Dr. Harrison knelt down, carefully unwrapping the clean white bandage around Chloe's left knee. He examined the neat row of black stitches, pressing lightly on the surrounding skin.
Dr. Harrison: The swelling has gone down significantly, Mrs. Sterling. The cut is healing very clean. We can remove these stitches by next Tuesday.
Chloe: That's wonderful news, Doctor. And the baby?
Dr. Harrison: The fetal monitor readings from yesterday were perfect. Heart rate is a strong 145 beats per minute. Your baby girl is completely healthy and growing right on schedule.
Mark: Thank you, Doctor. Thank you for taking such good care of my family.
Dr. Harrison: It's my honor, Mr. Sterling. Just make sure she gets plenty of rest and stays off that leg for another few days.