“He is going to tell the judge that I am a burden on you, that I am unfit to be around the children.”

“We will show them the letters,” Daniel said, his jaw tight.

“We will show the judge that my uncle has been blackmailing and coercing you for years.”

“We will expose him, Claire.”

The door to the room opened slowly.

Dr. Shah walked in, holding a metal clipboard.

He looked at the tense atmosphere in the room, then at the legal documents piled on the bedside table.

“Everything alright in here?” Dr. Shah asked, his eyes scanning my monitors.

“We are dealing with a family emergency, Doctor,” Daniel said, keeping his voice polite but firm.

“I need to know if Claire can be discharged tomorrow morning.”

Dr. Shah frowned, looking at my chart.

“Her white blood cell count is still low, Mr. Whitmore,” Dr. Shah said.

“She needs to finish this round of IV antibiotics.”

“Discharging her now could lead to a relapse.”

“It is a legal matter, Doctor,” Daniel said.

“Her presence is required in court at nine o’clock tomorrow.”