Chapter 4: The Doctor's Verdict
Chapter 4: The Doctor's Verdict
The rhythmic thump of helicopter blades echoed across the Chicago skyline.
Every person in the penthouse turned toward the towering windows as the black-and-gold medical helicopter settled onto the rooftop landing pad across the street.
The live news helicopters circling above immediately redirected their cameras.
Within minutes, every major television network carried the same headline.
BREAKING NEWS
Medical Evacuation Ordered for Cross Capital's New Executive Chair
Inside the penthouse, panic spread faster than the news.
Jonathan Pierce checked his watch.
"They'll be here in less than two minutes."
Marcus Hale had already cleared the hallway.
His security team formed a protective corridor leading from the bedroom to the private elevator.
"No reporters past this point," he ordered.
The journalists protested.
"This is public interest!"
"We have a right to ask questions!"
Marcus didn't even look at them.
"You have thirty seconds to step back."
No one tested him twice.
Evelyn's breathing had become uneven.
Every contraction stole a little more of her strength.
She leaned against Jonathan's arm, one hand pressed protectively over her belly.
"Can you hear me?" Jonathan asked gently.
She nodded.
"Breathe slowly."
"I... I'm trying."
Another sharp pain seized her abdomen.
She closed her eyes.
Not yet.
She couldn't lose consciousness.
Not while her babies still needed her.
Damian paced across the bedroom like a caged animal.
His phone rang again.
Then again.
Then again.
He ignored every call.
Until one name appeared on the screen.
Harold Benton.
Founder of Benton Global Investments.
The man whose billion-dollar investment had launched Cross Capital years earlier.
Damian answered immediately.
"Harold, thank God—"
"Don't."
The older man's voice was colder than Damian had ever heard.
"You've embarrassed every investor in this country."
Damian rubbed a hand through his hair.
"You don't understand."
"No."
"I understand perfectly."
Harold continued.
"I just watched a live broadcast of your pregnant wife bleeding on the floor while you argued about stock ownership."
Damian's face drained of color.
"It wasn't like that."
"It was exactly like that."
Silence.
Then came the words Damian never expected to hear.
"Benton Global is withdrawing every dollar we've invested."
The call ended.
Damian stood frozen.
One investor gone.
Others would follow.
Celeste quietly slipped toward the bedroom door.
She wanted to disappear before anyone noticed her.
She almost made it.
"Ms. Monroe."
Jonathan's calm voice stopped her cold.
She slowly turned.
"Yes?"
"Please remain available."
Her stomach tightened.
"For what?"
"The police."
The color vanished from her face.
"The police?"
Jonathan nodded.
"There is now substantial evidence suggesting domestic violence against Mrs. Cross."
Celeste looked toward Damian.
He wouldn't even meet her eyes.
For the first time since she'd entered his life...
She realized something horrifying.
If saving himself required sacrificing her...
He wouldn't hesitate.
The elevator doors opened.
Four medical professionals rushed into the hallway.
Leading them was Dr. Amelia Carter.
One of the nation's top maternal-fetal specialists.
She moved with calm precision despite the urgency.
"Evelyn."
Her voice softened as she knelt beside her patient.
"I'm here."
The moment Dr. Carter saw the bruises around Evelyn's wrists...
The swelling along the back of her head...
The blood staining her gown...
Her expression hardened.
"What happened?"
Evelyn hesitated.
Damian answered first.
"She fell."
Dr. Carter slowly looked up at him.
"You'll speak when I ask you to."
The room fell silent.
No one had ever spoken to Damian that way.
He opened his mouth.
She raised one finger.
"I wasn't asking you."
Then she turned back to Evelyn.
"Evelyn?"
For several long seconds...
Evelyn said nothing.
Finally...
"He dragged me."
Dr. Carter's jaw tightened.
"Across the floor?"
A small nod.
"And kicked me."
Another nod.
The doctor's eyes briefly closed.
When she opened them again...
There was no warmth left.
Only controlled anger.
"Get the ultrasound."
One nurse immediately opened a portable imaging unit.
Another began checking Evelyn's vital signs.
Blood pressure.
Pulse.
Oxygen.
Everything was happening at once.
The ultrasound probe touched Evelyn's abdomen.
Everyone watched the monitor.
The room held its breath.
A heartbeat.
Then another.
Two tiny flickering lights appeared on the screen.
The twins.
Alive.
Dr. Carter exhaled slowly.
"They're still with us."
Tears filled Evelyn's eyes.
"Thank God..."
But Dr. Carter wasn't smiling.
She continued examining the images.
Her expression grew more serious.
The silence stretched.
Jonathan felt his stomach knot.
"What is it?"
Dr. Carter answered quietly.
"Placental separation."
The words struck the room like lightning.
"What does that mean?" Jonathan asked.
"It means part of the placenta has begun separating from the uterus."
She looked directly at Evelyn.
"We need surgery."
"Immediately."
Damian finally stepped forward.
"She's overreacting."
Every face turned toward him.
Dr. Carter stared in disbelief.
"Excuse me?"
"My wife has always been emotional."
The doctor stood.
She was several inches shorter than Damian.
Yet somehow...
She towered over him.
"If we wait..."
She spoke each word carefully.
"...your wife could die."
She paused.
"So could both babies."
Even then...
Damian's first question wasn't about Evelyn.
"How long will recovery take?"
The doctor blinked.
"You've got to be kidding."
"I have shareholders waiting."
The nurse beside her whispered,
"My God..."
Dr. Carter folded her arms.
"I've treated mothers for twenty-three years."
"I've watched families endure unimaginable tragedy."
"I've delivered babies weighing less than two pounds."
She looked Damian directly in the eye.
"And I have never met a father who asked about shareholder meetings before asking whether his children would survive."
The room was utterly silent.
Every reporter was still recording.
Every camera captured Damian's face.
His silence became its own confession.
Outside...
Social media exploded.
Clips of Dr. Carter confronting Damian spread across every platform.
Millions of comments poured in.
Arrest him.
Protect Evelyn.
She deserves better.
Television anchors interrupted regular programming.
Legal analysts discussed possible criminal charges.
Financial experts predicted Cross Capital would recover under Evelyn's leadership.
The entire country seemed united behind one woman.
Inside the penthouse...
Dr. Carter looked toward Jonathan.
"I need transport now."
Jonathan nodded.
"The helicopter?"
"No."
She shook her head.
"It'll take too long to transfer her across rooftops."
Marcus stepped forward.
"The rooftop elevator is blocked by media."
Dr. Carter thought for only a second.
"Then we use the underground garage."
Marcus smiled slightly.
"Already secured."
As the medical team carefully lifted Evelyn onto a specialized stretcher, she reached out weakly.
"Jonathan..."
He immediately leaned closer.
"Yes?"
"If anything..."
She swallowed painfully.
"...happens to me..."
"It won't."
She gave him a tired smile.
"Promise me anyway."
Jonathan couldn't speak.
"My babies..."
"...protect them."
He took her hand.
"I swear."
She nodded.
Then looked across the room one final time.
Her eyes found Damian.
For years she had searched those eyes hoping to find the man she once loved.
Tonight...
There was nothing left to search for.
Only emptiness.
She turned away.
Without another word.
Without another glance.
The medical team wheeled her toward the elevator.
The doors began to close.
Just before they shut completely...
Dr. Carter looked back at Damian.
Her voice was calm.
But every word cut like a blade.
"If either of those babies dies tonight..."
"...I'll make sure every courtroom in Illinois hears exactly why."
The elevator doors closed.
A deafening silence settled over the penthouse.
Then...
Before Damian could gather his thoughts...
The shrill ringtone of his phone shattered the silence once more.
May you like
The caller ID displayed only two words.
Federal Bureau.
