Margaret laughed sharply. “Excuse me? No. I just told you—she’s unstable.”
Daniel didn’t raise his voice.
But there was steel in it now.
“You are currently holding a child without the mother’s consent,” he said. “Return the baby.”
For the first time, Margaret hesitated.
“She doesn’t even have a job,” she snapped. “She’s been lying to all of you.”
I spoke before Daniel could respond.
“I am a federal judge,” I said, my voice cutting through the room. “And you are about to commit a very serious crime.”
Silence.
Margaret’s face drained of color.
“You’re… bluffing,” she said weakly.
Daniel gave a small signal.
One of the officers stepped forward carefully, gently removing Noah from her arms despite her protests.
“No—wait—what are you doing?!”
Noah was placed back against my chest.
He quieted almost instantly.
Tears blurred my vision as I held both my babies close.
Safe.
Finally safe.
“You brought unauthorized legal documents into a medical facility,” I said, forcing myself to stay composed. “You attempted to coerce a patient under medical distress into surrendering her child. You physically assaulted me.”
Margaret shook her head, panic creeping in.
“I was helping my family!”
“You were taking my son,” I corrected.
Daniel gestured toward the door.
“Mrs. Whitmore, you’ll need to come with us.”
Her head snapped toward him. “You can’t be serious.”
“We are,” he said calmly.
Her eyes darted back to me—searching, calculating.
“You’ll regret this,” she whispered.
I met her gaze without hesitation.
“No,” I said. “I won’t.”
She was escorted out moments later, her heels echoing down the hall like a fading storm.
The room fell quiet again.
Too quiet.
Daniel turned back to me. “Your Honor… are you alright?”
I nodded faintly. “I will be.”
“We’ll post security outside your room,” he said. “No one gets in without your permission.”
“Thank you.”
When the door closed behind him, I finally allowed myself to exhale.
My body trembled.
