“Yes, Mike,” I whispered, my voice shaking but determined. “Please, help me.”
Mrs. Sterling’s eyes widened. “Judge? What kind of trick is this?”
Mike took a deep breath, regaining his composure. “Ma’am,” he said, addressing Mrs. Sterling with a level of authority that could shatter glass, “I suggest you put the baby down and step away.”
“Now,” Mike interrupted, his voice leaving no room for negotiation.
With a reluctant snarl, Mrs. Sterling placed Leo back in the bassinet, her face a mask of shock and fury. The guards moved between her and me, forming a protective wall.
“I’ll have your badge for this!” Mrs. Sterling seethed, pointing a manicured finger at Mike.
He ignored her. “Judge Vance, are you okay?”
I nodded, though my face throbbed and my heart raced. “Thank you, Mike. Please, escort Mrs. Sterling out. I need some time with my children.”
Mrs. Sterling’s protests faded as the guards led her out, her heels clacking sharply against the floor. I could already imagine the spin she would put on this when she got back to her socialite circles, but that was a battle for another day.
Once the room was quiet, I sank back onto the pillows, cradling my babies close. My mind replayed every moment, every painful second of what had just happened. But as I looked down at Leo and Luna, I felt an overwhelming surge of strength and protection.
The door opened once more, and my husband, David, rushed in, panic etched across his face. “Elena! I just heard—”
“It’s okay, David,” I said softly, reaching for his hand. “They’re safe. We’re safe.”
He looked at me, eyes filled with remorse and awe. “I’m so sorry, I had no idea—”
“It’s not your fault,” I reassured him, squeezing his hand. “I should have told you sooner. I just… I wanted peace. I didn’t want the judgment to cloud our lives.”
He sat beside me, tenderly brushing a thumb over my bruised cheek. “My mother is—”
“A hurricane,” I finished for him, managing a weak smile. “But she can’t touch us anymore.”
David kissed my forehead, then each of the twins. “I didn’t marry you for your title or your position, Elena. I married you because you are the strongest, most compassionate woman I’ve ever known.”
I leaned into him, feeling the warmth of his body seep into mine. “I love you,” I whispered, feeling the weight of the world lift just slightly off my shoulders.
Outside the window, the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of gold and purple. A new day would come, with new challenges and joys. But for now, in this tranquil island of time, the four of us—David, Leo, Luna, and I—were all that existed.