The siren sound amplified rapidly, the heavy hum of multiple high-powered engines roaring up the stone driveway.
Victoria: David, call Miller right now and cancel the units. Tell him it was a false alarm.
David: Cancel them? You just confessed to attempting to murder my infant son.
Victoria: Think about your public stock, David! You are the CEO of Vance Global Logistics! If news breaks that your wife tried to kill your child, the board will force you out by tomorrow morning!
David: I don't give a damn about the board of directors.
Victoria: I will hire the best criminal defense lawyer in Manhattan! I will tell the press you abused me, that you drove me into severe postpartum depression!
Elena: You didn't even give birth to him! How can you claim postpartum depression for a surrogate pregnancy?!
Victoria: Juries believe grieving women, Elena! They don't believe billionaires or Mexican maids!
David: You really think you're going to walk away from this with a settlement, don't you?
Victoria straightened her silk robe, attempting to regain the haughty posture she used at country club fundraisers.
Victoria: Our prenuptial contract guarantees me twenty-five million dollars upon separation after six months of marriage. We’ve been married for eight. That money is legally mine.
David: Did you actually read the document before you signed it, Victoria? Or were you just blinded by the dollar signs?
Victoria's eyes narrowed, a sharp prick of panic piercing through her smug expression.
Victoria: Richard Sterling gave me the standard boilerplate terms! I had my own lawyer review the financial split!
David: Then your lawyer failed you. Turn to Section Nineteen, Clause C. The Moral Turpitude and Felony Exclusion.
Victoria’s breathing hitched, her chest rising and falling rapidly under the emerald robe.
David: Any spouse who commits an act of felony violence or severe endangerment against any heir of the Vance estate forfeits one hundred percent of all claims, spousal support, property rights, and lump-sum settlements.
Victoria: That... that clause is unenforceable in Connecticut probate court!
David: It is ironclad. Richard Sterling wrote it specifically because my first wife Sarah wanted to ensure no gold-digger ever harmed her children for a payout.
Chloe: And I uploaded the video to Grandma’s iPad too, Daddy! It’s backed up in three places!
Victoria: You little brat, I’ll strangle you!
Victoria lunged violently toward Chloe again, but Elena pushed herself up from the floor, throwing her own bruised body between Victoria and the little girl.
Elena: You will not lay a finger on this child!
Elena stood tall despite the sharp agony shooting through her damaged knees, her eyes blazing with fierce protective fire.
Victoria recoiled, looking at Elena with utter disgust and hatred.
Victoria: You're going to regret this, Elena. I know where your family lives. I know where your daughter goes to school.
David: Threatening my staff inside my home? You just added witness intimidation to your list of charges.
The heavy front double doors rattled violently as three loud, authoritative knocks shook the mahogany wood.
Police Officer: Police department! Open the door!
David walked over to the grand entrance, keeping Liam firmly secured in his left arm, and pulled the door open.
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