Chapter 2: The Storm in the Shadows
The next morning, the atmosphere at San Gabriel Hospital grew even more turbulent. Valerie had barely slept, her mind haunted by Eli's broken expression and the terrifying realization that he now knew about the child. She was in the breakroom, trying to sip some tea, when her phone buzzed with an unknown number.
"Dr. Torres," a cold, aristocratic voice echoed through the receiver. It was a voice Valerie recognized instantly. Helen Vance.
"Mrs. Vance," Valerie said, her posture instantly stiffening. "If this is regarding Sophie, she is doing well and is ready for discharge."
"I am not calling about my granddaughter, Valerie. I am calling about the pathetic scene you caused in the ER last night," Helen sneered. "My associates inform me that Eli looked like he had seen a ghost. And more importantly, I hear you are showing quite a prominent... condition."
Valerie felt a chill run down her spine. Helen had spies even within the hospital board. "My personal life is none of your business, Mrs. Vance."
"It becomes my business when you attempt to trap my son with a bastard child to secure a piece of the Vance estate," Helen hissed. "Let me make one thing entirely clear: that child will never carry the Vance name, nor will it see a single dime of our fortune. If you try to legally bind Eli to this pregnancy, I will personally ensure your medical license is revoked. I have enough leverage on the hospital board to ruin you by sunset."
Valerie’s hand shook, but her voice remained steady. "I don't want your money, Helen. And I certainly don't want Eli anymore. Your family is toxic. Keep your fortune. Just keep your son away from me."
She slammed the phone down, her heart racing. Before she could process the threat, the breakroom door swung open, and Eli walked in. He looked completely disheveled—his eyes bloodshot, his jaw covered in dark stubble.
"Valerie, we need to talk," he said urgently. "I saw my mother's car downstairs. Did she call you? Did she say something to you?"
"Get out, Eli," Valerie breathed, pressing her back against the counter. "Your mother just threatened to destroy my career. She thinks I'm trying to trap you. I want nothing to do with this drama. I am a doctor. I have a child to protect. Leave me alone."
"I won't let her hurt you!" Eli yelled, his voice cracking with an intense emotion Valerie had never heard from him before. He took three long strides and closed the distance between them, catching her hands in his. "I heard what she did six months ago, Valerie. I found out she threatened your residency before you walked out on me. I didn't know back then. I thought you just fell out of love with me. I was a fool, an absolute coward for not fighting for you. But I swear to God, I will protect you and this baby from her."
Valerie looked into his eyes, searching for the deceit, but all she found was raw, agonizing truth. "You didn't know?" she whispered.
"No!" Eli cried, tears finally spilling over his eyelids. "If I had known she threatened your career, I would have burned the Vance empire to the ground six months ago. Please, Valerie. Give me a chance to fix this. Let me be the man you deserved."
Before Valerie could answer, the overhead intercom blared: “Code Blue, Pediatric ICU, Room 412. Code Blue.”
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Room 412. Sophie.
Valerie’s medical instincts overrode her personal agony. She pushed Eli aside and sprinted down the hallway, Eli running right behind her, terror gripping his heart once more.
