Chapter 4 - The Hospital Siege
The fourth floor of North Mercy Children’s Hospital was normally quiet at eleven o’clock at night. Tonight, it felt like a war zone.
When the elevator doors opened, August and Meredith stepped out into a hallway lined with private security guards. At the far end of the hall, near Room 412, stood two lawyers in expensive suits holding manila folders, accompanied by a woman in a formal coat—Miss Branson, the hospital’s head administrator.
“You cannot be up here, Mr. Vale!” Miss Branson declared nervously, adjusting her glasses as August strode down the hall like a storm. “This is a restricted pediatric unit, and these gentlemen have an emergency custody transfer warrant signed by a judge—"
“That warrant is fraudulent,” Meredith interrupted, stepping past August, her eyes fixed on her sister’s door. “I am Grace Quinn’s legal guardian. I have signed no transfer documents.”
One of Ridge’s lawyers stepped forward smoothly. “Miss Quinn, given the violent incident at the Ashford Grand tonight in which you were involved, your suitability as a guardian is being called into question by the board of—”
August didn't let him finish. He grabbed the lawyer’s expensive tie, yanking him down until they were eye-to-eye. “If you say another word to my wife, I will ensure you lose your license to practice law before the sun rises tomorrow.”
“August,” Meredith warned gently, laying a hand on his forearm.
August released the attorney, who stumbled backward, straightened his jacket, and looked at Miss Branson for support.
Before Miss Branson could speak, the door to Room 412 swung open.
Nine-year-old Grace stood in her flannel pajamas, holding a green colored pencil in one hand and her IV pole in the other. She looked at the crowd of men in suits, then at the guards, and finally her eyes landed on Meredith.
“Mer?” Grace whispered, her small voice cutting through the tension in the hallway. “Why are there so many people here?”
Meredith dropped to her knees right there in the hospital corridor, holding out her arms. “Grace.”
Grace ran out of the room, leaving her IV pole behind, and threw her tiny arms around Meredith’s neck. Meredith pulled her sister close, burying her face in Grace’s hair, tears finally spilling past her lashes.
Grace pulled back slightly, her small hand touching the cut on Meredith’s lip. “You’re hurt. Did you fall down at work?”
“No, baby,” Meredith whispered, smiling through her tears. “I didn't fall.”
Grace looked up then, noticing August standing right behind Meredith. Her big brown eyes widened. She had seen August in photographs, and she knew him as the man Meredith talked about in quiet, late-night phone calls when she thought Grace was sleeping.
“Are you the man with the scratchy ring?” Grace asked innocently.
August’s stern expression melted completely. He dropped to one knee beside Meredith, meeting the little girl at eye level.
“I am,” August said softly, offering a faint, warm smile. “I’m August.”
“Are you here to help Mer?” Grace asked.
“I’m here to take both of you home,” August promised.
Miss Branson stepped forward, clearing her throat nervously. “Mr. Vale, regardless of your personal relationship, Miss Quinn’s medical bills are heavily subsidized by the hotel’s employee health fund. If she is no longer employed by the Ashford Grand—”
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“My wife doesn't need a hotel health fund,” August said, standing up and pulling a black metal card from his wallet. He handed it directly to the administrator. “This is an open credit line backed by Vale Holdings. I am purchasing the entire pediatric wing of this hospital tonight. You now work for me, Miss Branson. And your first task is to process my sister-in-law’s full transfer to the top priority transplant list.”
Miss Branson stared at the card, her mouth hanging open in sheer disbelief. The lawyers looked at each other, realizing their fight was over before it had even begun.
