By midnight, the glittering halls of the White House gala had emptied entirely, replaced by the sterile, fluorescent glow of federal interrogation rooms and legal offices[cite: 1]. Ethan sat across from his high-powered divorce lawyer in a private downtown office overlooking the skyline, reviewing the emergency injunctions freezing all of Elena's personal accounts[cite: 1]. The baby was sleeping soundly in a temporary crib set up in the adjoining resting room, safe and completely removed from the chaos of the day[cite: 1].
Attorney Harrison: The federal prosecutor is adding attempted premeditated homicide and insurance fraud to the local assault charges, Ethan.
Ethan: Will those additional charges stick based on the surveillance footage and Victor's financial evidence?
Attorney Harrison: Absolutely. Between the forged life insurance documents and the clear video of her dropping the child, she's looking at a minimum of twenty-five years without parole.
Ethan rubbed his temples, feeling the lingering physical exhaustion of sliding across marble floors catching up to his joints[cite: 1].
Ethan: Good. I want full, uncompromised sole custody of my child with zero visitation rights granted to her or her immediate family.
Attorney Harrison: That will be easily secured given the severity of the endangerment charge and the mental evaluation reports requested by the judge.
The heavy oak door of the office swung open slightly, revealing a junior associate holding an urgent dispatch printout[cite: 1].
Associate: Mr. Vance, excuse the interruption, but Elena's defense counsel just filed an emergency motion for a psychological evaluation plea.
Ethan scoffed, leaning back into his leather chair with a cold, unforgiving expression[cite: 1].
Ethan: She was entirely lucid when she threatened my financial standing and dropped my baby over that railing[cite: 1].
Attorney Harrison: They always try the temporary insanity angle when the evidence is too overwhelming to contest.
Ethan: Tell the judge we reject any plea deals. Let a jury watch her drop an innocent baby in 4K resolution[cite: 1].
Attorney Harrison: Understood, Ethan. I'll brief the district attorney first thing in the morning.
Ethan stood up, straightening the lapels of his suit jacket as he prepared to check on his sleeping child in the next room[cite: 1].
Ethan: Greed truly turns people into monsters, Harrison. I'm just glad I woke up before it was too late.