Lawyer Jackson: Marcus, we have a major problem. Eleanor’s lawyers just filed a restraining order against you in Austin.
Marcus: What?! On what grounds?! She abandoned my children in a state facility!
Lawyer Jackson: She claims you were declared mentally unfit after your coma five years ago, and that she legally surrendered parental rights to the state. She’s claiming you kidnapped them from the shelter today.
Marcus: She sold my daughters out to cover her own tracks! Where is she right now?
Lawyer Jackson: She flew back into Dallas two hours ago. Victoria’s father tipped her off about what happened at the wedding. They're working together to protect their business deal.
Marcus stood in the private medical suite of the Dallas Children's Hospital, watching a nurse quietly check little Maya’s temperature while Lily slept on the leather sofa nearby.
Dr. Aris: Mr. Vance, Maya is severely malnourished, but she will recover with proper care. However, social services is downstairs with two police officers.
Marcus: Social services? I am their biological father!
Dr. Aris: I know, Mr. Vance. But because of the paperwork Eleanor filed five years ago, you are legally listed as deceased on their state custody files.
The door to the hospital room opened, and two uniformed officers stepped in, followed by Eleanor, who was dressed in an expensive designer coat, looking pale but furious.
Eleanor: There he is officer! The man who took those children without legal custody!
Marcus: You absolute monster! You forged their death certificates while I was fighting for my life in an ICU!
Eleanor: You were brain-damaged, Marcus! You couldn't take care of them! I did what I had to do to secure their future!
Marcus: By putting them in a shelter and taking two million dollars of my money?!
Police Officer: Sir, calm down. Ma'am, do you have legal custody documents proving you are their guardian?
Eleanor: I am their biological mother! Marcus has no legal standing because he was declared incompetent five years ago during his recovery!
Lily: You lied, Mommy! You hit me when I asked for food! You told us Daddy hated us!
Lily scrambled off the sofa, tears streaming down her face as she backed behind Marcus, hiding behind his legs.
Police Officer: Ma'am, step back for a moment. Little girl, is what you're saying true?
Lily: She left us in a cold room in Austin and said if we ever called Daddy, the police would put us in cage!
Marcus: Jackson, tell me you have the banking records ready!
Jackson rushed into the room carrying a thick leather briefcase, pulling out a stack of financial documents and tossing them onto the medical table.
Lawyer Jackson: Officers, before you make any decisions, take a look at these offshore bank transfers dated three weeks ago. Eleanor cleared out a trust account set up for these girls and transferred $500,000 directly to Victoria's father's holding company.
Eleanor: That's a lie! That was a private investment!
Lawyer Jackson: It's bank fraud, wire fraud, and child endangerment. And we have the signatures right here.
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