By Friday morning, the grand granite steps of the county courthouse were bustling with lawyers, reporters, and city officials.
Julian and Victoria Vance hurried up the steps, trying to cover their faces from the flashing cameras of local news reporters.
Reporter 1: Mr. Vance! Is it true Harrison Medical canceled your twenty-million-dollar supply contract?!
Reporter 2: Mrs. Vance! Are you facing charges for corporate embezzlement and tax fraud?!
Victoria: No comment! Get those cameras out of my face right now!
Julian: Mother, keep walking! Don't say anything to the press!
They pushed their way through the glass doors into the marble lobby, where Dr. Harrison and Attorney Miller were waiting by the courtroom doors.
Julian immediately ran over, his face pale and his expensive tie sitting crooked against his collar.
Julian: Dr. Harrison! Please, we need to settle this before we go inside that courtroom!
Dr. Harrison: There is nothing to settle, Julian. The judge is ready for us.
Victoria: Dr. Harrison, my family's business is collapsing! Bank of America froze our corporate lines of credit this morning!
Attorney Miller: That tends to happen when federal tax fraud investigations become public record, Mrs. Vance.
Victoria: You leaked that audit report to the banking regulators!
Attorney Miller: As an officer of the court, I am legally required to report financial crimes involving family trusts.
Julian: Maya isn't even here! Where is my wife?!
Dr. Harrison: My daughter is at home resting, where she belongs. She gave full power of attorney to Sarah and me.
Julian: I have a right to see my wife and talk about our unborn child!
Dr. Harrison: You gave up that right when you stood in my hospital and demanded she sign away her baby's inheritance.
The heavy mahogany doors of Courtroom 4B swung open, and an officer of the court stepped into the hallway.
Bailiff: Hearing for Vance versus Harrison is now in session. All parties step inside.
Victoria grabbed Julian's sleeve, her voice trembling with genuine terror for the first time in her life.
Victoria: Julian... what are we going to do if the judge signs that emergency order?
Julian: We don't have a choice, Mother! We don't have the money to fight Dr. Harrison's legal team!
They walked into the tall, wood-paneled courtroom and took their seats at the defense table.
Judge Margaret Davis looked down from her high bench, flipping through a thick stack of financial and medical records.
Judge Davis: Mr. Vance, I have reviewed the emergency filings submitted by the petitioner, including video footage from Harrison General Hospital.
Julian's Lawyer: Your Honor, my client was experiencing severe emotional distress regarding his marital dispute—
Judge Davis: Save it, counselor. I watched a pregnant woman in a wheelchair being verbally abused and threatened with eviction while seeking medical care.
Victoria opened her mouth to speak, but her lawyer slammed his hand on her arm, shaking his head sharply.
Judge Davis: Furthermore, the evidence of financial coercion regarding the prenuptial agreement is appalling.
Attorney Miller: Your Honor, we request a full order of protection for Maya Harrison and her child, along with temporary sole legal custody upon birth.
Judge Davis: Granted. Mr. Vance, you will have zero contact with Maya Harrison, directly or through third parties, effective immediately.
Julian: Your Honor, please! That's my child too!
Judge Davis: You will be permitted supervised visitation only after completing anger management classes and submitting to a full financial audit by a court-appointed trustee.
Julian slumped down into his leather chair, holding his head in his hands as Victoria let out a quiet, defeated sob.
Judge Davis: Court is adjourned.