Three days later, the morning sun shone brightly into the master bedroom of the Vance estate. The house was quiet, peaceful, and filled with the scent of fresh lavender flowers.
Emma sat propped up on plush pillows in bed, wearing a comfortable silk robe, enjoying a plate of fresh fruit and warm toast.
Marcus: Here is your orange juice, my queen. Freshly squeezed this morning.
Emma: Thank you, handsome. You've been spoiling me non-stop since we came home from the hospital.
Marcus: You and our baby deserve to be spoiled every single day of your lives.
Marcus sat beside her, gently placing his palm over Emma's round stomach, feeling the tiny, rhythmic kicks of his daughter from within.
Marcus: Wow, she's really active today!
Emma: She knows her daddy is here protecting her.
The bedroom door opened slightly, and Marcus's sister, Sarah, walked in holding a large basket of baby clothes and stuffed animals.
Sarah: Good morning, lovebirds! Can I come in?
Emma: Sarah! Of course, come in!
Sarah: I brought some organic baby clothes from the boutique downtown. How are you feeling today, Emma?
Emma: Much better, Sarah. The bruising is turning yellow, and the doctor says my stress levels are down to normal.
Sarah: I still can't believe what mom did. When Marcus called me from the hospital, I thought I was dreaming.
Marcus: She lost her mind, Sarah. Her greed completely consumed her.
Sarah: She called me from the jail holding cell yesterday morning, begging me to post her bail.
Marcus: Did you?
Sarah: Are you crazy? Absolutely not! I told her she needs to face the consequences of what she did to Emma and my unborn niece.
Emma: Thank you for standing by us, Sarah. I know how hard this must be for you too.
Sarah: It's not hard at all, Emma. Mom was toxic to all of us for years. She used guilt and money to control Dad, she tried to control Marcus, and when you came along, she realized she couldn't control you.
Marcus: The grand jury indicted her yesterday morning on all three felony counts. The prosecutor said she's looking at three to five years in state prison.
Sarah: Good. Maybe a few years behind bars will finally teach her some humility.
Emma: I just want to put all this behind us and focus on bringing our daughter into a happy, loving home.
Marcus: That is exactly what we are going to do, sweetheart. No more drama, no more toxic family members, just us.
Marcus took Emma's hand, kissing her knuckles as Sarah smiled warmly at the couple.