Chapter 4 - The Restraining Order
By 9:00 AM the following day, the story of the "Poolside Theft" had exploded across local news outlets and social media.
A video captured by one of my college friends—showing the exact second Caleb grabbed my arm, Diane clutching the cash envelope, and my splash into the pool—had garnered over three million views overnight. The comment section was overwhelmingly ruthless toward the Rourkes.
Despite the $500,000 bail, Diane’s wealthy brother posted bond for her late Tuesday afternoon.
I was resting in my private hospital suite when the heavy wooden doors burst open.
Diane Rourke marched into the room, her designer sunglasses pushed up on her head, her face pale but her expression brimming with aristocratic arrogance. Behind her trailed Caleb’s younger sister, Chloe, who was recording everything on her phone.
"You ungrateful little brat!" Diane barked, marching toward the side of my bed. "Look what you’ve done to my family’s reputation! Caleb is sitting in a county jail cell with criminals because of your pathetic dramatic performance!"
I didn't flinch. I reached over to the bedside table and quietly tapped the record button on my phone.
"You stole my medical fund, Diane," I said calmly. "You stood by the pool and watched me sink while holding the money meant for my high-risk delivery."
"That money was meant for Rourke debts!" Diane yelled, slamming her designer purse onto the foot of my bed. "You married into this family! Everything you own belongs to us! My son gave you his name, and this is how you repay us? By ruining his career at the bank?!"
"Your son stole from my father’s trust," I replied, staring her down with cold, unwavering eyes. "And he pushed his pregnant wife into a pool."
"He didn't push you! You slipped!" Chloe chimed in from the doorway, holding her phone up. "We’re going to post this online and show everyone what a liar you are!"
Before Chloe could finish her sentence, two heavy hands grabbed her shoulders from behind.
Arthur Pendelton stepped into the room, flanked by two armed hospital security officers and a court process server in a charcoal suit.
"Chloe Rourke, drop the phone," Arthur said in a booming voice.
The process server stepped around Arthur and handed a thick stack of legal documents directly to Diane.
"Diane Rourke," the process server announced. "You are hereby served with an Emergency Restraining Order, an immediate Freeze of Assets issued by the State Circuit Court, and a Civil Summons for Fraud and Conversion."
Diane stared at the papers in her hand, her face turning crimson. "What is this nonsense?!"
"It means," Marcus Vance said, entering the room right behind the officers, "that you are currently within fifty feet of Maya Vance, which is a direct violation of the emergency protection order signed by Judge Henderson twenty minutes ago."
Captain Miller stepped into the doorway behind Marcus, holding a fresh pair of cuffs.
"Diane Rourke," Captain Miller said smoothly. "You were out on bail for less than two hours. Hands behind your back. Again."
"No! This is a setup! You can't do this!" Diane screamed as the police pulled her hands behind her back.
"Take the sister's phone as evidence of witness harassment," Marcus instructed the officers.
May you like
As Diane was hauled out of the room kicking and screaming, I looked at Marcus. "How long until the bank executes the foreclosure on their estate?"
Marcus checked his gold watch. "In exactly forty-eight hours."
