Chapter 4: The Ultimatums
By the afternoon, Sophie was extubated and fully conscious, asking for chocolate pudding. The crisis had passed, but the real-world consequences were just beginning.
While Eli was out getting Sophie her food, the door to the room opened, and Helen Vance walked in, looking like a queen inspecting a peasant village. She didn't look at Sophie; her cold eyes locked onto Valerie, who was checking the IV lines.
"I see you didn't heed my warning, Dr. Torres," Helen said, her voice dripping with venom. "I just spoke with the Chief of Medicine. Your suspension paperwork is being drafted as we speak. An 'unfortunate medical oversight' regarding Sophie's allergic reaction will be blamed on you."
"That's a lie!" Valerie said, her blood running cold. "I wasn't even the one who prescribed that medication; it was the morning shift doctor! I saved her life!"
"Facts don't matter when you don't have power, my dear," Helen smiled cruelly. "You chose to play games with the Vance family. Now, you will pay the price. You will leave this city, and you will sign a document abandoning all parental claims to whatever child is in your womb, or I will destroy your reputation so thoroughly you won't even be able to work as a school nurse."
"She won't be signing anything, Mother."
Eli’s voice boomed from the doorway. He walked into the room, his posture rigid, his eyes flashing with an icy fury that perfectly mirrored his mother’s—but this time, it was directed entirely at her.
"Eli," Helen said, her tone softening into an engineered sweetness. "I am just protecting you from this extortionist—"
"Shut up," Eli barked.
Helen gasped, utterly shocked. Eli had never spoken to her that way in his entire life.
"I heard everything," Eli said, stepping between Helen and Valerie, shielding Valerie completely. "Six months ago, you threatened her. You drove the woman I loved out of my life because you wanted to control me. And now, you are threatening the mother of my unborn child."
"Eli, think of the company! Think of your legacy!" Helen yelled, dropping her sophisticated act.
"I don't give a damn about the legacy," Eli said, pulling a legal document from his breast pocket and tossing it at Helen's feet. "That is my official resignation from Vance Global, effective immediately. I have already transferred my personal shares to a blind trust. I am stepping down as CEO."
Helen reeled back, clutching her chest. "You would throw away your birthright? For her? For a bastard?"
"If you ever call my child that again, I will ensure the press gets a full record of your financial fraud from the 2024 offshore accounts, Mother. Yes, I know about them," Eli said, his voice deadly calm. "Take your fortune and get out of our lives. You no longer have a son. And you no longer have a granddaughter."
Helen looked at Eli, realizing she had completely lost her grip on him. With a bitter sneer, she grabbed her purse and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
May you like
The room fell silent. Valerie looked at Eli, utterly stunned. "Eli... you gave up your company. Your whole life."
Eli turned to face her, a genuine, relieved smile breaking across his tired face"No, Valerie. For the first time in my life, I just saved my life. I chose you. I chose our family."
