Chapter 12 - THE HEARING FROM HER HOSPITAL BED
The competency hearing took place by secured video.
Elena remained in the hospital because contractions had begun too early.
Victor appeared in court wearing a gray suit and the expression of a concerned husband.
His attorney described him as a terrified expectant father.
They presented Elena’s fabricated messages.
They claimed she had become paranoid about money.
They argued Adrian had manipulated her into accusing Victor so Cross Meridian could retain control of the $50 million trust.
Victor addressed the judge directly.
“I love my wife. I want her treated, not exploited.”
Elena felt physically sick hearing him.
Her attorney, Rachel Kim, presented the surveillance file from Calvin’s office.
She showed the staged car breakdown.
The secret photographs.
The trust research conducted before Victor met Elena.
Victor’s attorney called the documents irrelevant to Elena’s current mental condition.
Then Major Hart testified.
She described finding Elena below Blackthorn Cliff.
She described Elena’s consistent accusation before learning an insurance claim existed.
She described Evelyn’s words upon entering the hospital.
“She’s supposed to be dead.”
The judge asked Elena several questions.
Did she understand the trust?
Did she understand the criminal investigation?
Did she know what would happen if she were declared incompetent?
Elena answered each one.
Then Victor’s lawyer asked why she had remained married if she truly feared him.
The question struck harder than Elena expected.
She looked at Victor on the screen.
“I stayed because he controlled my phone, my car and my access to help. He threatened Adrian. He convinced me every concern was proof I was unstable. And when I tried to leave, he locked me in a room.”
Victor shook his head sadly.
Elena continued.
“Remaining in danger does not mean the danger was imaginary.”
The judge rejected Victor’s petition.
He also issued a temporary order preventing Victor or Evelyn from exercising any authority over Elena’s medical care, the baby or the trust.
Victor’s expression finally cracked.
“You can’t take my child,” he shouted.
The judge warned him to remain silent.
Elena leaned toward the camera.
“You lost the right to call yourself a father when you pushed your child off a cliff.”
Court officers removed Victor from the room.
Minutes later, Elena doubled over in pain.
The fetal monitor changed.
Doctors rushed inside.
The fall and hypothermia had triggered labor six weeks early.
As Elena was wheeled toward surgery, she heard a nurse call for the neonatal team.
She reached for Adrian’s hand.
“Don’t let him near my baby.”
Adrian ran beside the bed.
May you like
“I promise.”
👉 Elena had survived the mountain, but she was now fighting to save the child Victor had considered nothing more than a key to fifty million dollars.
