Chapter 3 - The Counterattack
Mark stepped out of the hospital room.
He closed the heavy wooden door gently behind him.
His heart pounded against his ribs like a war drum.
He marched toward the central nurses' station at the end of the hall.
A young nurse looked up from her glowing computer monitor.
"Can I help you, sir?" she asked politely.
"I need to know where my newborn child is," Mark stated.
"My wife is Sarah Sterling in room 412."
The nurse clicked a few buttons on her keyboard.
Her brow furrowed in deep confusion.
"The file says the baby was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit," she replied.
"However, there is a strict no-visitation order placed on the file."
Mark gripped the edge of the high counter.
"Placed by whom?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"By the child's temporary legal guardian,
Eleanor Sterling," the nurse whispered nervously.
Mark closed his eyes and took a deep, steadying breath.
His mother was moving much faster than he had anticipated.
He knew she had a small army of expensive lawyers on her immediate payroll.
He pulled his cell phone from his pocket.
He dialed the number of his oldest friend, David.
David was one of the most ruthless family law attorneys in Manhattan.
"David, I have a massive emergency,"
Mark said the moment the call connected.
"My mother is actively trying to steal my child."
"Meet me at the hospital immediately."
He hung up the phone without waiting for a response.
Mark turned away from the desk and looked down the long, sterile hallway.
He was not going to let his mother destroy his family.
He began walking swiftly toward the elevators leading to the NICU.
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No security guard or fabricated legal document was going to stop him.
He was going to see his baby.
