Doctor: Mr. Vance? I'm Dr. Reynolds, the attending trauma physician.
David: Doctor, how is she? Please tell me my daughter is going to walk again.
Doctor: She is very lucky, David. The CT scans show a fractured left collarbone and two cracked ribs, but her spine is entirely intact.
David: Thank God... oh, thank God.
Doctor: She has a mild concussion, so we are keeping her overnight for observation. But physically, she will make a full recovery.
David: Can I see her now?
Doctor: She's in room 402. She's resting, but she's awake and asking for you.
David walked quickly down the sterile hospital hallway, his shoes squeaking against the linoleum floors. He opened the heavy door to room 402 and saw Maya lying in the hospital bed, a small IV line attached to her arm.
David: Hey, sweetie.
Maya: Daddy... you came back.
David: Of course I came back. I'm never leaving your side, Maya.
Maya: Is Clara here?
David: No. It's just you and me. You don't have to worry about Clara right now.
Maya: Daddy, I need to tell you what happened before she pushed me.
David: Take it easy, Maya. You don't have to force yourself if you're tired.
Maya: No, I have to tell you! She was in your home office upstairs.
David: My office? I keep that door locked when I'm at the firm.
Maya: She had a gold key. I saw her open the desk drawer where you keep the red folder.
David: The estate files? My trust fund paperwork?
Maya: She was holding paper papers in her hand and talking on the phone. She said, 'If he signs the new life insurance policy, we get everything.'
David: Who was she talking to, Maya?
Maya: I don't know. She called him Mark.
David felt a surge of ice-cold dread hit the pit of his stomach. Mark was Clara's ex-fiancé, the man she claimed she had cut all ties with before their wedding six months ago.
David: What happened after you saw her in the office?
Maya: She heard me step on the hallway floorboard. She turned around and her face looked so scary, Daddy.
David: Did she say something to you?
Maya: She grabbed my arm real tight and dragged me out toward the railing. She said, 'You saw too much, you little brat.'
David: And then she pushed you?
Maya: I tried to grab the wooden bars, but she shoved my chest. I fell backward.
David: Oh my God... Maya, I am so sorry I wasn't there to protect you.
Maya: It's not your fault, Daddy. But please don't let her hurt us.
David: She will never step foot near you again, Maya. I swear on my life.
David held his daughter's hand until her breathing slowed and she drifted off to sleep under the heavy pain medication. Once he was sure she was resting peacefully, he pulled his phone out and dialed his head of security, legal counsel, and the local police department.
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