Julian: Doctor, please tell me how she's doing. Is the baby okay?
Julian stood in the sterile hallway of the emergency room, his suit jacket crumpled, his hands trembling as he grabbed the doctor's sleeve.
Doctor: Mr. Sterling, take a breath. Your wife has suffered a minor concussion, a sprained wrist, and severe bruising along her ribs and back.
Julian: And the baby? What about our son?
Doctor: We performed an immediate ultrasound and fetal monitoring. Miraculously, the placental lining remained intact. The baby suffered no direct trauma, though your wife is experiencing mild early contractions due to the stress and physical shock.
Julian: Early contractions? Is she going into labor?
Doctor: We've administered medication to stop the contractions and stabilize her. Right now, both mother and baby are stable, but she needs absolute rest and zero stress for the remainder of her pregnancy.
Julian: Can I see her?
Doctor: Room 412. Keep it quiet, sir. She's exhausted.
Julian pushed open the heavy door to Room 412. Maya lay in the hospital bed, an IV line hooked to her arm, a fetal heart monitor strapped across her bump, emitting a steady, comforting beat: *thump-thump, thump-thump*.
Julian: Maya...
Maya: Julian... hey...
Julian rushed to her bedside, gently pressing his lips to her forehead as tears finally spilled over his eyes.
Julian: I was so scared, Maya. I thought I lost both of you.
Maya: He's strong, Julian. Our little boy is strong.
Julian: You were so brave down there. How did you have the presence of mind to keep the phone rolling?
Maya: Because I knew if I didn't have proof, Alexis and Eleanor would rewrite the story. They would have blamed me for tripping, or said I was clumsy.
Julian: They're never going to touch you again, Maya. I promise you that on my father's memory.
Maya: What happened to Alexis?
Julian: She was processed at the precinct an hour ago. The magistrate set her bail at two million dollars because of the video evidence and the severity of the charges. Eleanor is trying to liquidate her personal accounts to post bail, but I've already filed an emergency injunction with the probate court.
Maya: To freeze the trust?
Julian: To freeze every single penny tied to the Sterling estate. Eleanor won't be able to spend a dime of my father's money to bail out her daughter.
Maya: What about the estate itself?
Julian: I'm selling the mansion, Maya. We're never setting foot in that foyer again. We're going to buy a quiet house by the coast, far away from all of this greed.
Maya: That sounds perfect...
Maya reached out her uninjured hand, clasping Julian's fingers tightly as the soft rhythm of their baby's heartbeat filled the quiet room.