Eleanora lay frozen on the examination bed. Her breathing was ragged. The cold air conditioning of the VIP room bit into her exposed skin. Axel's lethal threat hung in the air, wrapping around her throat like an invisible wire.
Axel straightened his posture. He adjusted his expensive cufflinks, his face a mask of pure indifference. He had given her twenty-four hours just moments ago, but standing in this sterile room, looking at the flickering heartbeat on the monitor, a dark, suffocating impatience clawed at his chest. He changed his mind. He could not tolerate the existence of this parasite for a single second longer. He turned to the pale doctor.
"Prepare the surgical suite," Axel ordered. "Do the abortion right now."
Dr. Reed swallowed hard. He glanced nervously at Eleanora, then back to the billionaire.
"Mr. Sterling," Dr. Reed stammered, his hands gripping his clipboard. "I cannot perform a termination without the patient's explicit, written consent. The legal and ethical protocols-"
Axel took a slow step toward the doctor. The air pressure in the room seemed to drop.
"Doctor, I own a controlling stake in the pharmaceutical company that supplies this hospital's entire oncology department," Axel said, his voice dropping a terrifying octave. "I also sit on the board of your malpractice insurance provider. Now, are you going to tell me about protocols, or are you going to do your job?"
Eleanora's heart hammered against her ribs. Acid rose in her throat. She darted her eyes around the sterile room, desperately searching for a way out. The door was closed. Axel blocked the path.
She reached out blindly. Her fingers wrapped around the cold edge of a heavy metal surgical tray resting on a rolling cart next to the bed.
She pulled it toward her, holding the metal tray awkwardly over her stomach like a makeshift shield.
Axel turned his head. He looked at the tray, then at her shaking hands. He let out a dark, mocking laugh. The sound held zero humor.
"Put that down," Axel said. He slowly walked toward the bed. He unbuttoned his suit jacket, shrugging it off his broad shoulders, and tossed it carelessly onto a plastic chair.
"Stay back!" Eleanora warned. Her voice shook violently behind her mask, but her knuckles turned white as she gripped the metal edges.
Axel lunged forward. His speed was terrifying.
Before she could even blink, his large hand clamped over her wrist. He twisted it slightly-just enough to send a sharp jolt of pain shooting up her arm.
The metal tray slipped from her numb fingers. It clattered loudly onto the hard linoleum floor, the sharp noise echoing off the tiled walls.
Axel pushed her back against the mattress. He pinned both of her arms above her head with just one of his hands. He leaned his weight over her, his face inches from hers.
"If you fight me," Axel promised, his breath brushing her skin, "I will make this hurt."
He raised his free hand and signaled the trembling nurse to administer a sedative.
Just as the nurse picked up a syringe, the heavy double doors of the clinic swung wide open. They hit the wall with a loud bang.
Madam Sterling stepped into the room.
The elderly matriarch wore a severe black dress. Her silver-handled cane struck the floor with absolute, terrifying authority.
Four elite Sterling family security guards filed in immediately behind her. In seconds, they neutralized Axel's men in the hallway, blocking the exit.
"What exactly are you doing in this shady clinic, Axel?" Madam Sterling demanded. Her voice was sharp enough to cut glass.
Axel froze. He released Eleanora's wrists and took a step back. He ran a frustrated hand through his dark hair, cursing viciously under his breath.
Madam Sterling walked past him without a second glance. Her sharp, calculating eyes fixed instantly on the ultrasound monitor. The tiny fetal heartbeat still pulsed rhythmically on the screen.
She raised her cane and tapped the glass of the monitor. Her wrinkled eyes widened. A sudden, fierce joy illuminated her stern face.
"It is a parasite," Axel spat out, his hands curling into fists. "Planted by a gold digger to steal from this family. I am handling it."
Madam Sterling spun around. She swung her cane and struck Axel hard across the shin.
Axel flinched, his jaw tightening, but he did not dare strike back.
"You will respect the Sterling bloodline!" Madam Sterling roared.
Eleanora slowly sat up on the bed. Her wrists throbbed. She pulled her thin hospital gown tight across her chest. Her mind raced. She realized instantly that this ruthless old woman was the only shield she had left in the world.
Madam Sterling turned her attention to Eleanora. She looked at the white medical mask covering the girl's face.
"What is your name, child?" Madam Sterling asked. Her tone softened, though her eyes remained sharp and assessing.
"Eleanora," she whispered. She kept her voice soft, polite, and laced with just enough fear to play the victim perfectly.
Madam Sterling nodded. She turned back to her grandson.
"This child will be born," Madam Sterling declared. "And it will be raised in the Sterling estate."
"No," Axel flatly refused. His eyes burned with dark rebellion. "I will never be tied down by a scam artist."
Madam Sterling narrowed her eyes. She leaned heavily on her silver cane.
"Then I will invoke the morality clause in your late mother's trust fund," she said quietly.
Axel froze completely. The mention of his mother, Anya, hit him like a physical blow. His jaw clenched so hard a muscle ticked violently in his cheek. His breathing stopped.
"You will marry Eleanora immediately," Madam Sterling commanded, her voice echoing in the silent room. "Or you will forfeit your mother's shares, and I will strip you of your CEO position by sunset."
Axel glared at Eleanora. His eyes were pools of pure, concentrated hatred. He was a predator caught in a steel trap, and he blamed the bleeding prey in front of him.
