Detective Vance: Evelyn Sterling, you are under arrest for first-degree murder, attempted murder, bribery, and evidence tampering.
Evelyn: Get your hands off me! Do you know who my lawyers are? I am the head of Sterling Global!
Detective Vance: Not anymore, ma'am. Put your hands behind your back.
The cold steel handcuffs clicked loudly around Evelyn's wrists. She thrashed against the officer's grip, her disheveled hair falling across her face as she was pulled up from the floor.
Evelyn: Richard! Call the legal team! Tell them to file an emergency bail application!
Richard: I'm hiring my own lawyer, Mother. I'm cooperating with the prosecutor.
Evelyn: You traitor! You miserable little snake!
Detective Vance: Richard Sterling, you're coming with us too for questioning regarding conspiracy to commit fraud.
Richard: What? I didn't poison anyone! I just signed the paperwork she gave me!
Detective Vance: You can explain that to the grand jury, son. Move it.
The officers led Evelyn and Richard down the grand marble staircase, past the dark bloodstain left by Maya's fall. Photographers flashed their cameras continuously as the evil stepmother was led out the front doors into the flashing red lights of the police cruisers.
Guest B: Serves her right. Pushing a pregnant girl down the stairs... she's a monster.
Guest C: To think Arthur trusted that evil woman in his final days.
Julian didn't care about the cameras or the crowd. He handed the manila folder to Detective Vance and ran out the front entrance, sliding into his sports car and speeding toward the city hospital.
The night air whipped through his window as he tore through the empty streets, his heart pounding in his chest. Images of Maya crying on the cold stone floor flashed in his mind. He gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white.
Julian: Please God... please protect my wife and my child. Don't let her take them from me.
Ten minutes later, his tires screeched to a halt outside the emergency room entrance of St. Jude's Hospital. He slammed the car door shut and ran through the glass sliding doors into the bright, sterile lobby.
Julian: Where is Maya Sterling? She was brought in by ambulance from the Sterling estate!
Nurse: Sir, you need to calm down. Are you immediate family?
Julian: I'm her husband! Where is she?
Judge Harrison: Julian! Over here!
Judge Harrison walked out of a private consultation room, his face looking tired but calm as he motioned for Julian to come closer.
Julian: Judge! How is she? How is our baby?
Judge Harrison: Take a deep breath, son. The doctors just finished the emergency ultrasound.
Julian held his breath, his eyes wide with fear as he waited for the verdict that would define the rest of his life.