Chapter 8 - Julia’s Choice
Julia opened her black handbag.
Inside was a small sealed syringe.
Marcus stared at it.
“How did you get that?”
“I saw you take it from Dr. Hale’s case.”
Helena’s face twisted.
“You should have stayed out of this.”
Julia stepped toward Daniel.
“I thought Marcus was carrying pain medication. Then I heard them arguing in the preparation room.”
She handed Daniel the syringe.
“I switched it with saline.”
Marcus surged forward.
“You stupid—”
Daniel caught him by the front of his suit and forced him back against a stone column.
“You were going to inject her again?”
Marcus struggled.
“She was going to destroy everything.”
“She is your sister.”
“She chose you over us.”
Daniel’s grip tightened.
“No. She chose the truth.”
Sirens sounded outside.
Helena looked toward the chapel doors.
Her composure finally disappeared.
She moved quickly toward a side aisle.
Several guests blocked her path.
Daniel released Marcus as police entered.
Paramedics rushed to the coffin.
They checked Clara’s pulse.
One of them looked up.
“We have cardiac activity.”
Daniel’s knees nearly gave out.
The paramedics secured Clara’s airway and began assisted ventilation. They carefully transferred her from the coffin to a medical stretcher, protecting her abdomen.
A fetal monitor was placed against her dress.
For several terrible seconds, there was only static.
Then a rapid heartbeat filled the chapel.
The baby was alive.
Daniel covered his mouth.
Julia began sobbing.
Even some guests sank into chairs.
Helena stared at the stretcher.
Her expression was not relief.
It was hatred.
Daniel saw it.
So did Detective Laura Mendes, the first officer to enter.
She approached Helena.
“You need to come with us.”
Helena lifted her chin.
“You have no idea who I am.”
Detective Mendes glanced toward the open coffin.
“I know exactly what you tried to do.”
Marcus was handcuffed near the altar.
Dr. Hale surrendered without resistance.
As paramedics wheeled Clara toward the ambulance, Daniel walked beside her, holding her hand.
Her fingers remained limp.
“Clara, I’m here.”
Her eyelids did not move.
But the monitor continued beating.
Clara was alive.
The baby was alive.
Yet the doctor warned Daniel before the ambulance doors closed.
May you like
“She has been without proper oxygen support for hours. We don’t know what will happen when the drugs wear off.”
👉 Daniel had stopped the cremation, but Clara’s survival now depended on whether the conspiracy had caused permanent damage.
