Chapter 4 - The Unmasking at Denver General
By Monday morning, Ryan was frantic.
He drove like a madman to Denver General Hospital, his camel coat wrinkled, his hair disheveled, his eyes bloodshot as he pushed past the security desk in the main lobby.
"Where is Emma Parker?!" Ryan screamed at the front desk nurse. "I am her husband! You have no right to keep my son from me!"
Two tall, broad-shouldered hospital security guards stepped into his path, blocking the elevators.
"Mr. Parker, you are listed under a active court-issued emergency protective order," the lead guard stated flatly. "You need to step off the premises immediately."
"I am not leaving without my family!" Ryan yelled, waving his arms.
"They aren't your family anymore, Ryan."
The quiet, authoritative voice came from the hallway behind him.
Arthur Vance walked forward, flanked by two uniformed Denver police detectives.
Ryan recognized Arthur Vance immediately—he was one of the most feared corporate litigation attorneys in the state.
"Vance?" Ryan stammered, backing up a step. "What are you doing here? This is a private family matter!"
"Abandoning a hemorrhaging mother and a ten-day-old infant is not a private family matter, Mr. Parker," Detective Miller stated, stepping forward with a leather folder.
"Under Colorado Revised Statute 18-6-401, you are officially under investigation for felony child endangerment and criminal negligence."
Ryan turned pale, looking around the crowded hospital lobby where visitors were pulling out their phones to record him.
Vanessa Grant stepped into the lobby behind him, carrying a designer handbag, looking panicked. "Ryan! The press is outside! The local news is broadcasting live from the parking lot!"
Ryan turned to Vanessa, his voice high and shrill. "Vanessa! Tell them! Tell them you called me for an emergency business meeting! Tell them I didn't know Emma was sick!"
Vanessa looked at the police officers, then at the news cameras, and took three sharp steps away from Ryan.
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"Don't bring me into your disaster, Ryan," Vanessa sneered, her sweet, professional mask slipping completely. "I was your consultant, not your babysitter. I told you to go home on Friday, but you wanted to stay and drink."
Ryan stared at her, his mouth open, realizing that the woman he had chosen over his wife had abandoned him the second the heat turned on.
