Daniel: Mother, what did you make her do?! She is nine months pregnant!
Evelyn: Don't speak to me in that tone, Daniel! I merely asked her to clean the family heirloom before dinner!
Daniel: She's bleeding, Mother! Look at her dress! Are you completely out of your mind?!
Evelyn: She's exaggerating to get your attention! She's been lazy all week while you were away at the corporate office!
Clara: Daniel... it hurts so much... please get the baby out...
Daniel: I'm calling an ambulance right now. Hang on, sweetheart, hold my hand.
Daniel pulled his smartphone from his suit jacket, his thumb shaking as he dialed emergency services.
Daniel: Yes, I need an ambulance at the Vance estate immediately! My wife is in labor and bleeding severely!
Evelyn: Hang up that phone, Daniel! Do you have any idea how bad it will look for our family if an ambulance pulls up with flashing lights during the charity gala?!
Daniel: I don't give a damn about your gala, Evelyn! My wife and child are dying on this floor!
Evelyn: She is a nobody from a small town! My family's reputation in this city is worth more than her silly dramatic fits!
Daniel scooped me up into his arms, ignoring the gold basin and the soapy water sloshing across the floor. My head rested against his shoulder as another intense contraction slammed through my body.
Clara: Daniel... don't drop me...
Daniel: I've got you, Clara. I will never let anyone hurt you again. Never.
Evelyn: If you walk out that door with her, Daniel, I will cut off your access to the family trust fund!
Daniel stopped right at the grand double doors, turning his head to look back at his mother with cold disgust.
Daniel: Keep the money, Evelyn. Because after tonight, you will never see me, my wife, or your grandchild ever again.
Evelyn: You wouldn't dare! I built your father's company after he died!
Daniel: My father built that company. You just spent his money while abusing everyone around you. We're done.
The loud wail of sirens echoed down the long private driveway, bright red lights flashing through the stained-glass windows of the front foyer.
Clara: Daniel... please hurry...
Daniel: They're here, baby. Stay with me. Just stay with me.
The front doors flew open, and two paramedics rushed inside with a gurney, their heavy boots thudding against the marble. Daniel set me down gently onto the padded stretcher as the medical team moved quickly around us.
Paramedic 1: Sir, what happened here? She's in advanced labor!
Daniel: She was forced to do heavy physical labor on her knees for hours!
Paramedic 1: Blood pressure is dropping fast! We need to move her to the hospital right now!
Evelyn: Wait! You can't leave all this mess in my foyer!
Daniel looked at his mother one last time as the paramedics rolled me toward the waiting ambulance outside in the cold night air.
Daniel: Clean it up yourself, Evelyn. It's your precious basin.