Chapter 6 - Rulings from the Bench
The paramedics burst through the heavy double doors with a stretcher and trauma bags within four minutes.
"Thirty-eight weeks, active labor, ruptured membranes, potential physical trauma to the facial area," the lead paramedic barked, immediately cutting open my sleeve to slap an automated blood pressure cuff on my arm.
"BP is 165 over 105," the second EMT shouted. "She’s hypertensive. We need to move her right now."
As they lifted me onto the gurney, Judge Harper stepped down from the bench, walking down the steps with her robe swishing around her ankles. She looked down at me on the stretcher, her stern face softening with fierce compassion.
"Mrs. Miller," Judge Harper said, loud enough for the court stenographer—who was still typing every single breath—to record. "Before you leave this room, hear this clearly. I am entering an immediate, ex-parte emergency preservation order."
A fresh contraction hit me, but I forced my eyes to stay locked on hers.
"All domestic and international accounts bearing your husband’s name, Caroline Holdings, or any affiliated LLCs are frozen as of sixty seconds ago," Judge Harper commanded. "Temporary sole legal and physical custody of the child to be born is granted exclusively to you. A full restraining order is enacted against Mr. Miller and Ms. Lang, effective immediately. They are barred from entering the hospital or coming within five hundred yards of you or the child."
A choked sob escaped Eric from the corner where he was being cuffed. "You can't do that! That's my daughter!"
Judge Harper didn't even turn to look at him. "You forfeit the privilege of fatherhood the moment you plot to bankrupt your child before her first breath. Paramedics, take her to Mercy General. Mr. Bell, go with your client."
May you like
"Thank you, Your Honor," Richard said.
As the wheels of the gurney rattled over the courtroom threshold, I caught one final glimpse of Eric. Stripped of his pride, stripped of his stolen millions, pinned against the table in handcuffs, watching the mother of his child roll away into freedom.
