Chapter 5 - A Life in the Balance
""Julian! Something is wrong!"" Catherine’s voice pitched into pure panic as she cradled Leo’s burning forehead. The infant was lethargic, his eyes fluttering closed as shallow gasps rattled in his tiny chest. ""He’s burning up! He was out in that freezing rain for too long!""
Julian crossed the room in two strides, his hand resting against the child’s cheek. The heat radiating from Leo’s skin made him recoil. ""Doctor Hall should have been here by now,"" he muttered grimly, pulling out his phone and dialing the private clinic.
The phone rang three times before an unfamiliar male voice answered. ""Mr. Vance. I am afraid Dr. Hall has been reassigned tonight under executive orders from Madame Eleanor Vance. All Vance-affiliated private medical personnel are currently grounded.""
Julian’s vision went white with rage. ""He’s a newborn child, you bastard!""
""Company policy regarding unauthorized guests, sir,"" the voice replied flatly before the line went dead.
Eleanor was systematically suffocating them, cutting off every resource, every lifeline, attempting to force Catherine to abandon the child or surrender to the family's terms.
""We take him to the municipal hospital,"" Catherine pleaded, tears spilling uncontrollably down her face. ""Now, Julian! Please, don't let him die because of your family's feud!""
""No municipal hospital,"" Julian said decisively, grabbing his heavy wool overcoat and throwing it around Catherine’s shoulders. ""The press will be tipped off before we hit the emergency doors, and my mother’s lawyers will have a ward custody order signed by midnight. I have a friend who runs an independent trauma clinic on the west side. No cameras. No Vance connections.""
He scooped up Catherine’s elbow, guiding her swiftly toward the service elevator at the rear of the penthouse. They bypassed the main lobby entirely, descending straight into the underground parking structure where Julian’s personal, unmarked black SUV sat dormant.
As they buckled into the vehicle and Julian slammed his foot on the accelerator, the engine roared to life, echoing off the concrete walls. The SUV rocketed up the ramp and burst into the midnight storm.
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Through the rain-streaked side mirror, Catherine watched the street behind them. ""Julian,"" she whispered, terror tightening in her throat. ""Two dark sedans just pulled out of the garage shadows behind us.""
Julian shifted gears, his knuckles turning porcelain white on the steering wheel. ""Hold on to Leo.""
