"“Go Spend Christmas With Her,” His Pregnant Wife Said — By Morning, She Was Gone

"You're insane, Julian," Daniel said, taking a slow step in front of Rachel, shielding her with his body. "You did all of this... for municipal contracts?"

Julian scoffed, stepping over the shattered glass on the floor. "Don't be naive, Daniel. It was never just about the contracts. You were always the golden boy. The brilliant architect with the moral high ground. You married a sweet, penniless girl, played the saint, and built a firm on my back while taking all the credit."

"She is eight months pregnant, Julian!" Daniel yelled, his control snapping. "You sent her fake financial papers! You drove her blood pressure to critical levels! She's in the hospital right now fighting for her life!"

"I know," Julian said calmly, raising the gun slightly higher. "I've been monitoring her medical portal through the clinic’s compromised network. In fact, I knew she left your house last night before you even woke up."

"Why?" Rachel demanded from behind Daniel, her voice shaking with rage. "Why involve me? Why use my name?"

Julian turned his gaze to Rachel, his eyes cold and lifeless. "Because you were the perfect narrative, Rachel. A grieving widow returning to her wealthy ex-boyfriend. A wife pushed past her breaking point by betrayal. When the police find Daniel's body here tonight—a supposed suicide caused by the shame of his exposure—no one will question it. They'll think he broke under the weight of his own lies."

Daniel's eyes darted around the desk. Heavy brass paperweights, a steel desk lamp, a heavy glass monitor. None of it was enough against a gun at five paces.

"You won't get away with this," Daniel said, trying to buy time as he subtly moved his foot closer to the computer tower on the floor. "The hospital has legal teams involved. Arthur Vance knows—"

"Arthur Vance works for me," Julian interrupted, a smirk spreading across his face.

Daniel froze. "What?"

"Who do you think hired Vance to intercept Emma at the hospital?" Julian chuckled. "Vance isn't an independent attorney. He's on my payroll. His job was simple: keep you away from Emma long enough for her condition to deteriorate, ensure she doesn't sign any medical release forms to you, and keep you isolated until I could finish the job."

The horror of the situation pressed down on Daniel like a crushing weight. Emma was completely isolated in that hospital, surrounded by people paid to keep her separated from the truth, while her body was failing under the immense physical stress of her pregnancy.

"You're a monster," Daniel whispered.

"I'm a businessman," Julian corrected.

Julian raised the gun, aiming directly between Daniel's eyes. His finger tightened on the trigger.

CLICK.

A loud, sharp electronic screech echoed through the office.

Julian flinched, his eyes darting toward the ceiling speakers. The office's automatic fire suppression and security alarm system suddenly activated. Bright white strobe lights began flashing violently, and deafening 100-decibel alarms filled the room.

Taking advantage of the sudden blinding light and chaos, Daniel lunged forward with all his strength.

He tackled Julian at the waist, slamming him backward into the hallway wall. The gun discharged with a deafening BANG, the bullet ricocheting off the metal doorframe and shattering the glass light fixture above.

The two men crashed to the floor in a heap of fists, shattered glass, and blinding light.

Julian struck Daniel across the cheek with the butt of the gun, opening a deep gash over Daniel's eye. Blood poured down Daniel's face, blurring his vision, but he refused to let go. He grabbed Julian’s wrist, slamming it repeatedly against the hard wooden floor.

CRACK.

Julian screamed in pain as his grip loosened, and the hand-gun skittered across the floor toward Rachel.

"Rachel! Grab it!" Daniel shouted, holding Julian in a headlock despite the blood dripping into his eyes.

Rachel scrambled across the floor, grabbed the gun with both hands, and pointed it directly at Julian. "DON'T MOVE!" she screamed over the blaring security alarms.

Julian lay panting on the floor, his wrist broken, his face twisted in rage and pain.

Daniel stood up, wiping the blood from his eyes with his sleeve. He grabbed his phone off the desk, which was still recording the entire interaction through a background voice app he had activated the moment he sat down.

He looked down at his former partner with utter disgust.

"It's over, Julian," Daniel said. He pulled out his phone and dialed 911, handing the receiver to Rachel while he grabbed his coat.