The fluorescent lights of St. Jude Memorial Hospital hummed softly, casting a stark white glow over the polished marble floors.

Dominik stood near the reception desk, his dark designer suit sharp and immaculately tailored.

Beside him, Victoria clung tightly to his arm, her bright red silk dress fanning out around her like a flame.

Victoria: Babe, why are we even waiting around in this hallway? The private clinic is already prepared for us.

Dominik: Just wait a minute, Victoria. Dr. Vance said she needed to give me the updated records personally.

Victoria: It is so dramatic. We have a charity gala in two hours, Dominik. You promised we would leave early.

Dominik: I know what I promised. Just give it two minutes.

Down the corridor, heavy double doors pushed open, and Dr. Vance emerged holding a thick blue file folder.

Her scrub top was wrinkled, her face pale and unnervingly serious as her eyes scanned the quiet hallway.

Dr. Vance: Dominik! I am so glad I caught you before you left the building.

Victoria: Doctor, please make this quick. We have somewhere very important to be right now.

Dr. Vance: This cannot wait, Victoria. Dominik, you need to see these emergency intake files right now.

Dominik: What intake files? What is going on, Dr. Vance?

Dr. Vance: SHE'S 32 WEEKS PREGNANT!

Dominik: THIRTY-TWO WEEKS...

Dominik froze, the hospital hallway suddenly feeling completely devoid of air as he stared at the sonogram paper.

Victoria: Dominik, ignore her! She is mixing up patient files! Let us just go right now!

Dominik: Shut up, Victoria! Who is she talking about, Doctor?

A transport nurse rounded the corner, slowly pushing a chrome wheelchair down the central aisle.

Seated in the chair was Clara, her face pale, her eyes red and overflowing with tears as she clutched her swollen stomach.

Clara: DOMINIK!

Victoria: Don't look at her, Dominik! She is just a lying, crazy bitter ex trying to ruin your life!

Dominik: DON'T TOUCH ME!

Dominik violently yanked his arm free from Victoria’s grip, sending her stumbling back against the white wall.

He walked toward Clara, his chest heaving, his heart pounding like a sledgehammer against his ribs.

He dropped to his knees right beside her wheelchair, staring at her belly in total disbelief and fierce realization.

Dominik: THAT BABY IS MINE!

Clara sobbed, pulling a crumpled paper from her pocket and pressing it into his trembling hand.

Clara: They told me you knew... they told me you paid them to make me leave town forever...

Dominik: What? Who told you that? Who spoke to you, Clara?