Two hours later, the quiet hallway of the hospital smelled strongly of antiseptic. Julian sat in the waiting room chair, holding a warm cup of coffee while Elena stood nearby holding a legal briefcase.
Doctor: Mr. Vance?
Julian: How is she, Doctor? Please tell me she's okay.
Doctor: We pumped her stomach in time. The dosage of the sedative was high, but because your staff member intervened quickly, her system didn't absorb the full amount.
Julian: Thank God...
Doctor: Her blood pressure is stabilizing. She has a few bruises from the fall, but no broken bones. She's resting comfortably in room 402.
Julian: Can I see her?
Doctor: Give her fifteen minutes. She's just waking up from the mild intravenous fluids.
Julian let out a long breath, sitting back down as the heavy weight in his chest finally began to lift.
Elena: Mr. Vance, I just received a call from your corporate legal team.
Julian: What did Victoria's father say?
Elena: When we sent him the security camera footage and the bank transfer records, he immediately withdrew his legal team from her defense.
Julian: He abandoned his own daughter?
Elena: He realized that if he defended her, his own firm would be named as co-conspirators in the financial fraud. He's cutting all ties with her publicly by tomorrow morning.
Julian: Good. What about the divorce paperwork?
Elena: Filed under emergency domestic violence protocols. The judge signed an immediate restraining order and froze all her marital claims to your estate.
Julian: She won't get a single cent from my family ever again.
Elena: She's currently being held without bail pending her arraignment hearing on Monday morning.
Julian: Thank you, Elena. For everything. If you hadn't stayed sharp and kept those records, my mother might not be here right now.
Elena: I was just doing my job, sir. Your mother was always kind to me when everyone else treated me like invisible labor.
Julian: You're not just staff anymore. I want you to head our foundation's legal oversight department starting next week.
Elena: Mr. Vance... are you serious?
Julian: You saved my mother's life. It's the least I can do.