Two hours later, the private maternity room at Saint Jude Hospital was calm and warm. Sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows, illuminating the fresh flowers Ethan had ordered for the bedside table.
Clara lay tucked safely beneath clean white blankets, an IV drip hooked up to her arm. Beside her bed, the ultrasound monitor displayed the clear, steady heartbeat of her unborn child.
Doctor Evans: The baby is completely fine, Mrs. Vance. The amniotic sac protected her from the impact, and there are no signs of placental detachment.
Clara: Oh, thank God... Thank God...
Ethan: What about the cuts on her back from the glass, Doctor?
Doctor Evans: Superficial scratches only. Her thick robe took most of the glass impact. We cleaned the wounds, and she won't even need stitches.
Ethan: Thank you, Doctor. We appreciate everything you've done.
Doctor Evans: I'll leave you two alone to rest. The nurse will be in shortly with your discharge papers for tomorrow morning.
Doctor Evans walked out, closing the door gently. Ethan sat down on the edge of the hospital bed, holding Clara's hand in both of his.
Ethan: Did you hear that? Our baby girl is completely safe.
Clara: I can't believe it's finally over, Ethan. For months, every time you left for a business trip, Victoria made my life a living nightmare.
Ethan: She was trying to break your spirit so you would sign the trust fund over without fighting back.
Clara: She told me if I said anything to you, she would use her connections to freeze my father's medical foundation.
Ethan: She doesn't have any connections left. Marcus called me while you were in the ultrasound room. The district attorney officially denied her bail.
Clara: Denied bail?
Ethan: Because of the camera footage. The judge saw the video of her pushing you into the glass and trying to fake an attack. They deemed her an extreme flight risk and a danger to the public.
Clara: What about the company shares she tried to transfer?
Ethan: The probate court restored one hundred percent of your father's voting shares to you this afternoon. You are now the majority owner of Vance Enterprises.
Clara looked down at her hands, tears of relief welling in her eyes as she squeezed Ethan's fingers.
Clara: My father worked his entire life for that company. He wanted it to help people, not line Victoria's pockets.
Ethan: And now you get to run it the way he always wanted.