The white fluorescent lights of the hospital room flickered softly. Emma lay in the high bed, a monitor strapped to her belly, while Marcus sat in a chair beside her, holding her hand tightly in his.
Doctor Vance: Mr. Vance, the ultrasound shows no placental detachment, fortunately. Your wife has severe bruising on her hip and ribs, but the baby is stable.
Marcus: Thank God. Thank you so much, Doctor.
Doctor Vance: However, she must remain on strict bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy. Any high stress could trigger premature labor.
Emma: I can do that, Doctor. I just want our baby girl to be safe.
Doctor Vance: I will leave the physical therapy forms and injury report on your table. You will need them if you plan to press charges.
Marcus: We are definitely pressing charges, Doctor.
The door to the hospital room burst open suddenly. Eleanor marched inside, accompanied by a tall man wearing a sharp charcoal suit.
Eleanor: Marcus! How dare you call the police on your own mother!
Marcus: Lower your voice right now, or security will throw you off this floor!
Lawyer Stevens: Mr. Vance, I am Henry Stevens, your mother's legal counsel. We are here to resolve this family misunderstanding before press outlets get wind of this.
Marcus: Misunderstanding? She stomped on my pregnant wife, Stevens! I caught her red-handed!
Eleanor: I slipped on the wet floor, Marcus! I lost my balance! I didn't mean to touch her!
Emma: You didn't slip, Eleanor! You told me you would ruin me!
Lawyer Stevens: Mrs. Vance, please refrain from making emotional accusations without proof. A court will see this as an unfortunate domestic accident between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
Marcus: Proof? You want proof, Stevens?
Marcus reached into his suit pocket, pulling out his smartphone and tapping the screen.
Marcus: Our mansion has 4K security cameras installed in every corner of the grand foyer. The entire incident was uploaded to my cloud server the moment it happened.
Eleanor's face drained of all color, her hands beginning to tremble visible against her purple designer dress.
Eleanor: You... you have cameras in the hallway?
Marcus: I installed them last month for property insurance, mother. I watched the video in the ambulance on the way here. Do you want me to play the part where you dragged her by her hair, or the part where you kicked her belly?
Lawyer Stevens: Eleanor... is this true?
Eleanor: Henry, do something! He's my son! He can't put his own mother in jail!
Marcus: Watch me, mother. I already sent the video file directly to the District Attorney's office ten minutes ago.
Eleanor: Marcus, please! I am your mother! I raised you after your father died!
Marcus: My father left an eight-million-dollar life insurance policy that you squandered in five years! I owed you nothing, yet I bought you a condo and paid your monthly allowance!
Emma: You tried to make Marcus sign over his company stock to you last week, didn't you, Eleanor?
Marcus: What are you talking about, Emma?
Emma: She brought a notary to the house on Tuesday while you were in Chicago. She tried to trick me into signing your estate proxy forms while you were away!
Marcus: Is that why you locked her in the house today? To force her to hand over the trust fund documents?
Eleanor remained silent, backing away toward the door as Lawyer Stevens closed his briefcase with an uncomfortable click.
Lawyer Stevens: Eleanor, I am withdrawing as your representative. This is a felony assault and attempted corporate extortion case. I strongly suggest you retain a criminal defense attorney immediately.
Eleanor: Henry! You can't desert me!
Lawyer Stevens: Good day, Mr. Vance. I wish your wife a speedy recovery.
The attorney walked out, leaving Eleanor standing alone near the doorway, looking smaller and weaker than she ever had before.
Marcus: Leave, mother. Before the police officers outside this door come in to hand deliver your arrest warrant.