The color drained from Brenda’s face. Her earlier smugness evaporated. Around the room, whispers rippled.
Marcus’s voice softened slightly as he looked down at Isabelle. “It’s okay, love. I’m here now.” He turned back to the officers. “Gentlemen, thank you, but there’s no need for you here. My wife is a patient, not a threat.”
One of the officers cleared his throat awkwardly. “Understood, sir. We’ll step aside.”
Brenda sputtered, “She kept insisting—”
“Insisting?” Marcus cut in, his eyes sharp. “She was following her doctor’s orders. That’s what patients do. Your job was to help her, not humiliate her.”
A doctor hurried out from the hallway, alerted by the commotion. “Mrs. Laurent? We’ve been expecting you—Dr. Monroe called ahead. Please, come with me right away.”
Marcus gently guided Isabelle toward the hallway. As they passed, he glanced back at the nurse, his voice firm but controlled. “This isn’t over. A patient’s dignity is not optional.”
Inside the examination room, the world shifted back to what mattered most. Isabelle was placed on a bed, monitors connected, the rhythmic thump of her baby’s heartbeat filling the air. Relief washed over her, tears slipping down her cheeks.
“Your baby is fine,” the doctor assured her with a kind smile. “The cramps are concerning, but you came at the right time. We’ll monitor you closely.”
Marcus held her hand, his thumb brushing against her knuckles. “See? Our little one is strong. You did the right thing.”
