Two days later, the morning sun shone softly into the private hospital room. Maya sat up in bed, cradling her newborn son in her arms while Ryan poured a cup of water at the small table.
A knock sounded at the door, and an older gentleman in a dark charcoal suit entered, holding a thick leather folder under his arm.
Arthur: Good morning, Captain Sterling. Mrs. Sterling.
Ryan: Arthur, thanks for coming on such short notice.
Arthur: I came the moment I heard what happened at your residence.
Maya: Is Victoria out on bail, Mr. Vance?
Arthur: Her bail request was denied this morning by the magistrate judge.
Ryan: On what grounds?
Arthur: Probation violation and witness tampering. It turns out she was already under federal investigation for embezzlement from your father's estate.
Maya let out a long sigh of relief, leaning her head back against the white pillows.
Maya: I thought she was going to force me to sign those papers before Ryan got home.
Arthur: What papers was she carrying, Maya?
Maya: A deed transfer for the family trust account and a surrender of guardianship for the company shares.
Arthur: Those documents would have been completely illegal even if you had signed them under duress.
Ryan: She was desperate, Arthur. She knew my deployment ended this week.
Arthur: Indeed. Your father's real will was unsealed by the probate court yesterday afternoon.
Maya: The real will?
Arthur: The will Victoria presented six months ago was a fraudulent copy drafted by her personal lawyer.
Ryan: What does the legitimate will say?
Arthur: Your father left sixty percent of Sterling Enterprises directly to your son, with Ryan and Maya serving as joint trustees until he turns twenty-one.
Maya: Sixty percent...?
Arthur: That makes your newborn son the primary controlling shareholder of the entire corporation.
Ryan looked down at his small son sleeping peacefully in Maya's arms, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Ryan: Looks like you're the boss now, little guy.
Arthur: Furthermore, the court has issued a freeze on all of Victoria's personal assets to cover the missing funds she stole over the past two years.
Maya: How much did she steal?
Arthur: Over three million dollars. She will likely be serving a minimum of ten years in federal prison.
Ryan: Good. She earned every single day of it.