Chapter 14 - THE PRICE OF DIGNITY
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Within minutes, the estate’s private medical team arrived, called by the panicked security guard who had finally arrived at the scene. Dr. Harrison immediately wrapped the baby in a heated blanket, confirming after a brief examination that the infant had swallowed a small amount of water but was stable and out of danger.
“Get a heated blanket for Elena right now!” Marcus roared at the nurses, his voice echoing through the grand hallway of the mansion. “Prepare the master guest suite! Call a specialist to examine her jaw!”
“No,” Elena’s voice cut through the commotion, clear and unwavering.
Marcus turned, startled. Elena stood near the doorway of the servant quarters, wrapped in a coarse brown towel a guard had given her. She was pale, her dark hair dripping onto the hardwood floor, but her spine was straight as iron.
“Elena, please, let the doctors check you,” Marcus pleaded, stepping toward her. “You’re in shock. You have a severe bruise—”
“I don’t want your doctors, Mr. Vance,” Elena replied coldly. “And I don’t want your guest room.”
“I’m putting ten million dollars into a trust for you tomorrow morning,” Marcus declared desperately, his hands shaking as he gestured wildly. “I’m buying you a house. I will pay for whatever you want for the rest of your life. Just let me make this right!”
Elena looked at the powerful man begging in front of her, and for a moment, a faint, sad smile touched her broken lips.
“You think money washes away the stain of your palm against my face?” Elena asked softly. “You think a house makes up for looking at me like I was a murderer?”
Marcus froze, paralyzed by the quiet truth in her words.
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“I didn’t save your son for your money, Marcus,” Elena said, turning toward her small room. “I saved him because he’s an innocent child. Now I am packing my things and leaving.”
“Elena, wait!” Marcus called out, but the door firmly clicked shut between them."""
