By midnight, the emergency room at Dallas Memorial had quieted down.
Maya was resting comfortably in a private room on the maternity ward, hooked up to a continuous fetal heart monitor.
Ethan sat in the chair beside her bed, his tuxedo jacket tossed over the couch as he worked on his laptop.
A soft knock came at the heavy door, and Arthur Harrison stepped inside holding a thick stack of legal folders.
Ethan: How is the situation at the house, Arthur?
Arthur: The guests have all cleared out. I had security lock down the entire estate and secure the digital video files.
Ethan: Good. Has Chloe seen a judge yet?
Arthur: Her magistrate hearing is scheduled for eight AM tomorrow morning. The District Attorney has already viewed the hall video.
Maya: Did the D.A. say anything about bail?
Arthur: Given the severity of the video evidence and the threat made on camera, the D.A. is requesting no bail.
Ethan: Excellent. Make sure our corporate firm doesn't spend a single dollar on her defense attorney fees.
Arthur: Your mother tried to access the emergency legal defense fund an hour ago, Ethan.
Ethan: And what did the bank tell her?
Arthur: I blocked the authorization per your instructions. Since you are the sole managing partner, her access is frozen.
Maya: Ethan... your mom must be devastated right now.
Ethan: My mother stood by for years while Chloe treated staff, servers, and now you like trash. She needs to learn there are real consequences[cite: 1].
Maya reached out and placed her soft hand over Ethan's wrist.
Maya: I just want our children to be safe, Ethan. That's all I care about.
Ethan: They are safe, honey. And as long as I have breath in my body, no one in my biological family will ever threaten you again.
Arthur pulled a single white document out of his folder and set it on the bedside table.
Arthur: This is the restraining order against your sister and your mother, Ethan. Once you sign this, neither of them can come within five hundred feet of Maya or the children.
Ethan: Hand me a pen.
Maya: Your mother too, Ethan? Are you sure?
Ethan: She defended Chloe while you were lying on that floor bleeding from broken glass[cite: 1]. She made her choice.
Ethan signed his name firmly at the bottom of the legal document, handing the pen back to Arthur without a moment of hesitation.
Arthur: I will file this with the county clerk at first light tomorrow morning. Rest well, Maya.
Maya: Thank you, Arthur. For everything.