Chapter 3 - The Billionaire's Claim
The entire emergency room fell into a stunned, breathless silence as Richard Vance stood arrogantly at the front desk.
He was an infamous local billionaire, universally known for his ruthless real estate monopolies and deep, corrupt political connections.
Nurse Clara bravely stepped forward, instinctively using her body to block the main hallway that led directly to the pediatric intensive care unit.
"You can't just walk in here and claim human children like they are missing pieces of luggage," Clara stated firmly, refusing to back down.
Richard didn't even bother to look her in the eye; he simply snapped his fingers dismissively.
One of his slick corporate lawyers immediately stepped up and forcefully shoved the thick legal documents directly into Clara's chest.
The intimidating paperwork contained heavily stamped official birth certificates and expedited court orders granting Richard full, unquestionable custody of both twins.
According to the heavily fabricated documents, Elena was merely a hired surrogate who had suffered a psychotic break and illegally kidnapped the newborn children.
Paramedic David walked into the tense lobby, wiping nervous sweat from his forehead after securely transferring Elena to the adult ICU.
He recognized Richard's terrifying name immediately from the frantic, desperate note he had found back at the abandoned cabin.
David quickly moved to Clara's side and boldly told the billionaire that the local police were already investigating the suspicious kidnapping case.
Richard let out a dark, mocking laugh that echoed terribly against the sterile, white hospital walls.
He smoothly pulled his expensive cell phone from his pocket and confidently showed David a live news article published just two minutes ago.
The breaking headline proudly stated that the city's police chief had officially closed the abduction case, publicly citing it as a massive misunderstanding.
"The police in this city work for me, son, so I suggest you step aside," Richard sneered, stepping dangerously close to the courageous paramedic.
Just then, little Lily peaked her messy head out from behind the waiting room's corner wall.
The absolute moment her young eyes locked onto Richard's cold face, she let out a blood-curdling, terrified scream.
She scrambled desperately backward, trying to hide under a row of plastic chairs while sobbing uncontrollably in pure panic.
Richard's eyes narrowed dangerously as he looked down at the terrified six-year-old girl cowering on the floor.
He turned to his heavily armed bodyguards and pointed a manicured finger directly at little Lily.
"Take my twins from the back room, and grab that annoying little brat too," he ordered with absolute, freezing coldness.
Clara and David both moved fiercely to protect the crying child, but the massive bodyguards shoved them violently to the hard floor.
One of the giant men reached his meaty hand under the chairs, tightly grabbing Lily by her tiny, fragile ankle.
Suddenly, the piercing, deafening sound of shattering glass echoed from the ICU corridor behind them.
Everyone turned in shock to see a bleeding, barefoot Elena standing weakly in the doorway, holding a shattered red fire extinguisher.
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Her eyes were completely wild with maternal desperation, and she aimed the jagged edge of a broken glass shard directly at Richard's throat.
She gasped for air and told Richard that if his men took one more step, she would gladly show the world what he kept hidden in his basement.
