Chapter 3 - The Diagnosis of Betrayal
Under the threat of immediate public exposure, Dr. Sterling backed down, muttering excuses about "miscommunications" before retreating from the room. A younger, far more professional OB-GYN, Dr. Aris, quickly took over the case.
Daniel remained by Sarah’s side, holding her hand tightly as Dr. Aris spread the cold gel over Sarah's swollen belly and placed the ultrasound transducer down. The room fell into a tense, breathless silence, broken only by the rhythmic hum of the machine.
For a long, agonizing minute, there was only static.
Then, a sound filled the room—a rapid, steady, gallop-like beat. Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump.
Sarah let out a choked sob, tears of pure relief spilling over her eyelashes. "He's alive. Daniel, he's alive."
"He's a fighter, just like his mom," Daniel whispered, kissing her forehead.
However, Dr. Aris’s face remained grave as she studied the monitor. She moved the probe to Sarah’s lower back and side, where the dark, angry outline of a boot print was already beginning to bruise.
"The baby is stable for now, but the impact of the fall and the direct strike to your lower back have caused a partial placental abruption," Dr. Aris explained gently. "A small part of the placenta has detached from the uterine wall. It’s causing minor internal bleeding. Sarah, you cannot leave this hospital. You are on strict bed rest. Any sudden movement, stress, or further physical trauma could cause a complete detachment, which would be fatal for both you and the baby."
Daniel felt a cold fury settle deep into his bones. Jason hadn't just pushed his sister; he had practically signed a death warrant for his own nephew.
"What about the police?" Daniel asked, keeping his voice calm for Sarah's sake. "We need to file a report immediately."
"I am legally mandated to report any suspected domestic abuse or assault resulting in obstetric trauma," Dr. Aris said firmly, glancing toward the door. "I've already contacted the precinct. They should be sending an officer shortly. But you need to be prepared—the Vance family has deep roots in this city's political and legal systems."
"Let them try," Daniel said, his grip on the phone tightening. "We have the truth. And we have the footage."
Suddenly, Sarah’s phone buzzed in Daniel's hand. It was an unknown number. Daniel answered, placing it on speaker.
"Daniel," Arthur’s voice came through, devoid of the panic he had shown earlier, replaced by a cold, transactional tone. "Let’s not be foolish. I’ve spoken to the hospital board. Sarah will receive the best care money can buy, on my tab. In exchange, you will hand over her phone, delete the backup, and we will agree this was an unfortunate accident. If you refuse, I will release financial records to the police showing 'discrepancies' in your engineering firm's taxes. I will frame you for embezzlement, Daniel. I will make sure you are behind bars when that child is born."
Sarah stared at the phone in horror. Her own father was blackmailing her husband to save the brother who had nearly killed her child.
Daniel didn't hesitate. He looked at Sarah, seeing the strength and resolve in her tear-filled eyes, and knew what he had to do.
"Arthur," Daniel said slowly. "Save your breath. And tell Jason to start packing his bags for prison."
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Daniel ended the call, just as a knock sounded on the door. A tall, sharp-eyed detective in a trench coat stepped into the room.
"Mrs. Vance-Thorne? Mr. Thorne?" the detective asked, flashing his badge. "I'm Detective Ruiz. I understand there was an incident at the Vance estate."
