Julian: Stay still, Clara! Don't try to move yet!
Clara: Is the baby okay, Julian? Please tell me the baby is okay!
Julian: I have you, sweetheart. You're safe now.
Julian pulled his phone from his pocket with shaking fingers and dialed three numbers.
Julian: I need an ambulance at the Sterling mansion immediately! My pregnant wife was attacked!
Dispatcher: Is she conscious, sir? Is she bleeding?
Julian: She's conscious, but she fell from the upper landing! Please hurry!
He ended the call and cradled Clara's head in his lap while she gasped for air.
Clara: She kicked me, Julian... She looked right into my eyes and kicked me.
Julian: I saw her run away. I swear to God, she won't get away with this.
Clara: I thought I was going to die...
Julian: I caught you. I will always catch you.
The heavy front doors swung open, and the house manager, Thomas, came running into the foyer.
Thomas: Mr. Julian! What happened? I heard a scream all the way from the kitchen!
Julian: Lock down the estate gates right now, Thomas!
Thomas: Sir? What do you mean?
Julian: Victoria tried to kill Clara! She pushed her over the balcony!
Thomas: Dear God... Mrs. Sterling?
Julian: Close the front gate! Don't let her car leave the property!
Thomas: Right away, sir! I'm calling security at the gatehouse now!
Thomas pulled out his radio and began shouting orders into the microphone.
Julian gently wiped the tears and sweat from Clara's forehead.
Clara: Why does she hate me so much, Julian?
Julian: It's not about you, Clara. It's about control.
Clara: What do you mean?
Julian: Ever since my father passed away, she's been terrified of losing the family trust.
Clara: But our baby... why would she hurt an unborn child?
Julian: Because if I have an heir, her share of the estate shrinks to nothing.
Clara squeezed Julian's shirt, her face pale with shock.
Clara: She wanted to erase us both...
Julian: She failed. And she just sealed her own fate.
In the distance, the loud wail of police and paramedic sirens echoed through the estate gates.
Julian: Help is here, baby. Hang in there just a little longer.
Clara: Don't leave my side, Julian. Please.
Julian: I'm not going anywhere.
Four paramedics rushed into the foyer carrying a stretcher and medical bags.
Paramedic: Sir, step back and let us check her vital signs!
Julian: She's thirty-two weeks pregnant! Check the baby first!
Paramedic: Ma'am, can you hear me? Where does it hurt the most?
Clara: My ribs... and my lower back...
Paramedic: We're placing a fetal monitor on you right now. Try to take deep breaths.
The small monitor hummed, and after a few agonizing seconds, a steady heartbeat filled the room.
Paramedic: The baby's heartbeat is strong and stable.
Julian let out a ragged breath and buried his face in his hands, weeping with relief.
Julian: Thank God... thank God...
Paramedic: We need to transport her to Dallas General immediately for full scans.
Julian: I'm coming with her in the ambulance.
Two police officers walked into the foyer, their badges shining under the lights.
Officer Davis: Mr. Sterling? We received a report of an attempted murder on the premises.
Julian: Victoria Sterling is hiding somewhere in this house or trying to breach the gates.
Officer Davis: My partner is searching the upper level right now.
Julian: Check her private suite on the east wing. She has a secret safe in there.
Officer Davis: We'll secure the perimeter. You focus on your wife.
Julian held Clara's hand tightly as the paramedics lifted her onto the wheeled stretcher.
Julian: You're going to be okay, Clara. I promise you.
Clara: Find out what she was hiding, Julian... Before she covers her tracks.