Infiltration
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Infiltration
The ambulance drove at a steady speed through the busy city streets.
Inside, Alina still lay on the stretcher. Her eyes were closed-her breathing, which had been gasping, slowly began to stabilize.
Dr. Halvorsen sat with her hand still gently holding Alina’s hand.
The female paramedic continued to check the vital signs monitor with trained eyes.
“Blood pressure still low but stable,” she said in a professional voice. “Heart rate ninety-two per minute. Oxygen saturation ninety-five percent.”
Dr. Halvorsen nodded while taking notes on her small tablet.
“How much longer until the hospital?” she asked.
“Fifteen minutes,” the paramedic answered. “We’ve already confirmed with St. Catherine’s. The maternity unit is ready to receive the patient.”
Alina opened her eyes slowly-staring at the ambulance ceiling with an expression still filled with mixed emotions.
“Dr. Halvorsen,” Alina whispered in a hoarse voice. “What will happen when I arrive at the hospital?”
Dr. Halvorsen looked at Alina with gentle eyes.
“You will be examined by a complete medical team,” she explained patiently. “An obstetrician will check your pregnancy condition. We will do comprehensive blood tests to see your nutrition levels and overall health. And you will most likely be admitted to a special unit for intensive monitoring.”
She squeezed Alina’s hand gently.
“And as Ms. Fontaine said earlier, there you will have access to counselors and social workers who can help you. No one will force you to talk before you’re ready. But when you are ready, they will be there to listen.”
Alina nodded slowly, tears still flowing down her cheeks.
“Can Daniel see me anytime?” she asked in a voice full of fear.
Dr. Halvorsen hesitated for a moment.
“Technically, as your husband, he has the right to visit,” she answered carefully. “But we will ensure that those visits are supervised. And if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, you can request that visits be limited or stopped.”
Alina closed her eyes again-trying to calm the fear that was beginning to rise.
Daniel would surely come and keep reminding her of his threats.
But Alina wanted to try to fight. She wanted to be completely free from Daniel soon.
“I’m scared,” Alina whispered in a very quiet voice. “I don’t want to see him.”
“I understand,” Dr. Halvorsen answered gently. “You’re not alone anymore, Alina. Remember that. We will make sure your husband can’t approach you without supervision.”
A few minutes later…
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The ambulance arrived at St. Catherine’s Medical Center with the siren slowly fading.
Behind the ambulance, Daniel’s black car followed at a fairly close distance.
Daniel sat in the back seat with a very upright posture and controlled expression-but his clenched hands in his lap betrayed the anger he was suppressing.
The back door of the ambulance opened and paramedics quickly lowered the stretcher with Alina still lying down -her body looking very small and fragile under the white blanket.
Dr. Halvorsen got out following with her medical briefcase, giving instructions to the hospital staff who were already waiting.
“Female patient, twenty-eight years old, ten weeks pregnant with severe malnutrition,” she explained quickly and professionally. “Blood pressure ninety over fifty-eight. History of suicide attempt. Needs comprehensive evaluation and close monitoring.”
The hospital medical team immediately moved efficiently-taking Alina’s stretcher through the emergency entrance to the maternity unit.
Daniel got out of his car which had just parked in the visitor area.
He ran-something he rarely did-toward the entrance with quick steps and a face full of concern that looked genuine.
“Alina!” he called in a loud voice when he saw his wife’s stretcher being pushed away.
But they were already too far.
The automatic doors closed in front of him with a soft hiss.
Daniel stopped in the lobby with slightly gasping breath and clenched fists.
A nurse at the reception desk looked at him with a professional expression.
“Sir, how can I help you?”
“My wife was just brought in,” Daniel said quickly. “Alina Blackwood. She’s pregnant and in an emergency condition. I need to see her now.”
The nurse typed something on the computer with calm movements.
“Mrs. Alina Blackwood is being examined by our medical team in the maternity unit,” she said in a tone that was polite but firm. “She is currently undergoing initial evaluation. Family is not allowed in during the procedure.”
“I’m her husband,” Daniel said with a tone that rose slightly-frustration beginning to be heard. “I have the right to-”
“I understand, Sir,” the nurse interrupted while remaining calm. “But hospital protocol requires emergency medical evaluations to be conducted without interruption. For patient safety. Once the initial examination is complete, the doctor will come out to speak with you.”
Daniel felt his jaw tighten.
“How long will that take?”
“Usually two to three hours for cases like this,” the nurse answered. “You can wait in the family waiting room on the third floor. We will contact you as soon as there’s an update.”
C
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Daniel wanted to protest.
Wanted to demand to enter.
But he was also aware that making a scene here-in front of hospital staff and possibly security-would only make him look like exactly what Ms. Fontaine and Dr. Halvorsen suspected.
Controlling. Possessive. Dangerous.
He took a deep breath and forced his expression to become calmer.
“Alright,” he said with a controlled voice. “I’ll wait. But please make sure my wife gets the best care. She’s pregnant and her condition is very… delicate.”
“Of course, Sir. Our team will provide the best care.”
Daniel walked toward the elevator with measured steps-every movement controlled though anger boiled beneath the surface.
Third floor. Family waiting room.
The room was sterile and impersonal-uncomfortable plastic chairs, old magazines on the table, a TV showing news at low volume.
Daniel sat in a chair near the window and stared outside with unfocused eyes.
Two hours.
Three hours.
Time passed torturously slowly.
Every minute felt like eternity.
Daniel wasn’t used to waiting.
Wasn’t used to being out of control.
Wasn’t used to not knowing what was happening with Alina.
Finally, after almost three hours, the waiting room door opened.
Dr. Halvorsen entered with a clipboard in hand and a professional but wary expression.
Daniel stood quickly.
“How is Alina’s condition?” he asked with a voice full of concern. “Is she alright? The baby?”
Dr. Halvorsen looked at him with assessing eyes.
“Mrs. Alina has undergone a complete examination,” she said in a measured tone. “Her condition is stable for now, but she is indeed suffering from very severe malnutrition. We’ve already inserted an IV line for nutrition and hydration. The obstetrician has also examined her pregnancy.”
“And the baby?” Daniel asked again urgently.
“The fetus is still viable,” Dr. Halvorsen answered carefully. “But the mother’s malnutrition condition is very concerning for fetal development. We will monitor closely over the next few days.”
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Daniel felt slightly relieved-at least his baby was still safe.
“When can I see my wife?” he asked.
Dr. Halvorsen was silent for a moment.
“Mr. Blackwood, Mrs. Alina is resting now,” she said in a firm tone. “She is very tired and needs time to recover. We recommend that visits be postponed until tomorrow morning. This will give her time to stabilize without… additional pressure.”
Daniel felt anger immediately ignite.
“Additional pressure?” he repeated in a dangerously low voice. “I’m her husband. My presence isn’t ‘pressure’ — it’s support.”
“I understand you’re worried,” Dr. Halvorsen said while remaining calm. “But our medical decision is that Mrs. Alina needs complete rest tonight. No visitors. Even family.”
She looked at Daniel with unblinking eyes.
“You can come back tomorrow morning. Visiting hours begin at nine o’clock.”
Daniel stepped closer-not physically threatening, but his presence intimidating.
“Dr. Halvorsen,” he said in a very calm voice but full of barely concealed threat. “I hope you understand something very clearly.”
He leaned slightly-his face only a few inches from Dr. Halvorsen’s face.
“Alina is my wife. Mother of my child. And if something bad happens to her or to our baby because of your ‘ medical decisions’…”
A heavy pause.
“I will make sure you regret it,” he whispered in a voice that made hair stand on end. “I have resources. I have connections. And I have the ability to destroy someone’s career very… thoroughly.”
Dr. Halvorsen didn’t back down–but there was visible tension in her shoulders.
“That sounds like a threat, Mr. Blackwood,” she said in a voice that remained steady though there was a slight tremor behind it.
“It’s not a threat,” Daniel answered with a thin cold smile. “It’s a fact. I just want to make sure you understand… the stakes here.”
He stepped back, giving Dr. Halvorsen space to breathe.
“Take good care of my wife,” he said in a tone that returned to businesslike-as if the terrifying conversation had never happened. “And I’ll come back tomorrow morning. At nine o’clock sharp.”
Daniel turned and walked out with measured steps-leaving Dr. Halvorsen standing alone with the clipboard trembling slightly in her hands.
In the parking lot, Daniel got into his car with controlled movements.
Marcus was already waiting in the front passenger seat with a tablet in hand.
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Daniel sat down hard and closed the door with a sound louder than necessary.
“They didn’t let me see Alina,” he said in a voice full of barely controlled anger. “They said she needs ‘rest’ and I can only visit tomorrow morning.”
Marcus nodded with understanding.
“That’s probably standard protocol for medical emergency cases, Sir,” he said carefully.
“Or, it’s their way of making sure I can’t talk to Alina. To make sure she can be interviewed without me there to… clarify the situation.”
He stared ahead with narrowed eyes.
“They think they can separate us,” he whispered in a voice full of terrible determination. “They’re wrong.”
Daniel’ looked at Marcus sharply. “Have you found anything about Lisa Brennan?”
“Yes, Sir,” Marcus answered carefully. He opened the tablet and looked at Daniel. “I’ve found Lisa Brennan’s address. She lives in an apartment in the eastern district. Works as a manager at a retail store-her salary is enough to live on but nothing more.”
“Good,” Daniel said in a cold voice. “Send someone to meet her. Someone who can’t be traced back to us.”
Marcus nodded while typing something on the tablet.
“I’ve already contacted Vincent Palmer,” he said. “Private investigator who has worked for us several times. He’s experienced in… sensitive approaches.”
“Vincent Palmer,” Daniel repeated while staring out the window. “Can he be trusted?”
“Very much, Sir. He’s handled several similar cases for other clients. He knows how to approach someone without leaving a trace.”
“Give him a complete briefing about Lisa Brennan,” Daniel ordered. “Her background. Her financial situation. What she needs. And make sure he understands-this isn’t about forcing. This is about… giving Lisa an opportunity to correct the injustice she experienced.”
Marcus smiled thinly-understanding Daniel’s euphemism perfectly.
“How much should we offer?” he asked.
“Start with fifty thousand,” Daniel answered without hesitation. “If she hesitates, raise it to one hundred thousand. If that’s still not enough—offer a better job. Connections. Whatever she needs.”
Daniel turned to look at Marcus with cold eyes.
“But make sure she understands-this is a one-time offer. And if she accepts it, she must move quickly. The complaint must be filed today. No delays,”
“Understood, Sir. Vincent will handle it within two hours.”
Daniel nodded with satisfaction and returned to staring at the ambulance in front of them.
His mind worked quickly-calculating every step, every possibility, every threat.
St. Catherine’s Medical Center.
The place where Alina would be out of his control for the first time.
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The place where people would ask questions that Daniel couldn’t hear.
Daniel felt cold anger flowing through his veins.
Ms. Fontaine and Dr. Halvorsen thought they had won something.
Adrian Lawson thought he had saved Alina.
Richard Hayes thought he had protected his daughter.
They all didn’t understand who they were dealing with.
“Marcus,” he called in a very calm voice.
“Yes, Sir?”
“After Vincent Palmer handles Lisa Brennan, I want you to dig deeper into Ms. Claire Fontaine,” Daniel said in a cold tone. “I want to know about her family. Her parents. Her siblings if she has any. Her children if she has them. Who is important to her.”
Marcus turned with a slightly surprised expression.
“Sir, are you planning to-”
“I’m not planning to hurt anyone,” Daniel interrupted in a very controlled voice. “But I want everyone trying to separate me from Alina to know that their actions have consequences. Not just for them, but for the people they care about.”
He looked up at Marcus with very cold eyes.
“I want Ms. Fontaine to understand,” he said in a voice barely above a whisper but full of terrible threat, “If her report destroys my relationship with Alina, I won’t hesitate to destroy her life. Including everyone she loves.”
Marcus swallowed with difficulty.
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