PREGNANT BY THE WRONG BILLIONAIRE

SHERIFF'S WARRANT

The doors of the east wing swung open before Marcus could step out of the way.

A tall man in a dark gray overcoat walked into the room, his silver hair swept back, his cane striking the hardwood floor with a sharp click. Behind him stood two uniformed county deputies, flanked by an older man wearing the gold star badge of the county sheriff.

Arthur Vance stopped near the edge of the living room rug, taking in the roaring fireplace, the leather folder on the glass coffee table, and finally, Evelyn.

"Julian," Arthur said, his voice deep and raspy. "You always did keep poor company when you were under pressure."

Julian didn't step back. He adjusted his cuffs, stepping directly between his father and Evelyn. "You're trespassing, Arthur. This wing is private residential property."

"I own forty percent of the land trust this house sits on, son," Arthur replied, leaning slightly on his cane. "This isn't trespassing. It's an inspection." His pale eyes moved past Julian's shoulder to lock onto Evelyn. "Miss Hart, I presume. The woman who thinks she can walk out of Aegis Clinic with Vance family heirs."

Evelyn's hands clenched into fists at her sides, but she forced herself to stand straight. "I am a private patient, Mr. Vance. And you have zero legal right to be in this room."

Arthur let out a dry, quiet laugh. "A private patient who took possession of an unapproved donor sample linked to my family's estate. That makes it a legal matter for our board, young lady."

"Sheriff Miller," Julian interrupted, turning his gaze to the uniformed man standing near the door. "What is the legal basis for your presence on my property?"

Sheriff Miller looked visibly uncomfortable, adjusting his belt as he pulled an official document from his coat. "Mr. Vance... Mr. Julian Vance. I have an Emergency Custody Mandate issued by Judge Sterling less than an hour ago."

Evelyn felt her stomach drop. "Custody mandate? For what?"

"Under Section 14 of the State Reproductive Health Code," Sheriff Miller read aloud, his tone stiff. "When a donor sample of contested ownership is implanted without dual party verification, the court may order a temporary medical hold at an accredited state facility in this case, Aegis Clinic's inpatient wing."

"Judge Sterling is on your personal payroll, Arthur," Julian said, taking a step toward his father. "That order is an illegal a***e of emergency jurisdiction, and you know it."

"It's a signed court order, Julian," Arthur said, his jaw setting tight. "And until a superior court judge reviews it at nine o'clock tomorrow morning, Miss Hart is legally required to accompany Sheriff Miller to the Aegis facility."

Arthur turned to the sheriff, gesturing with his cane toward Evelyn. "Sheriff. Execute the order."

The two deputies stepped forward, their heavy boots loud against the floor.

"Do not touch her," Julian commanded. His voice was so flat and firm that both deputies hesitated, looking back at Sheriff Miller.

"Julian, don't make this an obstruction charge," Sheriff Miller warned softly. "If she comes peacefully, it's just a twenty four hour hold while the legal teams clear up the paperwork."

"She isn't going anywhere with you, Sheriff," Julian said. He turned slightly, reaching down to the coffee table and picking up the dark leather folder.

Arthur's eyes narrowed as Julian flipped the folder open. "What is that?"

"It's an emergency marital power of attorney affidavit," Julian said smoothly, turning the page so Sheriff Miller could see the state seal at the top. "Evelyn and I filed our intent to marry with the county registrar two hours ago. Under State Statute 402, a spouse's medical authority immediately supersedes any third party hold."

Arthur let out a sharp scoff. "An intent to marry? Nice try, Julian. That page isn't notarized, and there's no official marriage certificate attached. It's a piece of paper worth less than the napkin you wrote it on."

"It becomes a fully executed marriage license the second a registered notary stamps it," Julian countered. He looked over his shoulder toward the archway. "Thomas."

A middle aged man in a sharp blue suit stepped out from the private study down the hall, holding a heavy steel notary stamp and an official ledger.

Arthur's face darkened. "Thomas... you're my former corporate counsel. You wouldn't dare."

"I work for Vance International, Mr. Vance," Thomas said politely, placing his stamp onto the side table next to Evelyn. "And under state law, I am authorized to notarize an emergency spousal declaration on site."

Sheriff Miller held up a hand, pulling his phone from his belt. "Hold on. Thomas, log the license number into the county registry portal right now. If that document is verified and stamped before I execute this hold, Arthur... my hands are tied. Spousal power of attorney invalidates a Section 14 quarantine order."

Arthur stepped forward, his cane striking the floor hard. "She hasn't signed it! Look at her she's terrified of you, Julian! She isn't going to sign a marriage contract with a man she barely knows!"

Arthur turned his gaze directly to Evelyn, his tone dropping into a low, quiet threat.

"Miss Hart," Arthur said, taking a slow step toward her. "Think about what you're doing. If you sign that paper, you give my son complete legal access to your life and your children. Walk out that door with Sheriff Miller. My legal team will guarantee you five million dollars, complete privacy, and a quiet life in another state the moment you surrender the care to Aegis."

Evelyn stared at Arthur Vance. She looked at his cold, calculating eyes, at the sheriff's badge behind him, and at the offer he was making.

Five million dollars to give up her children.

She turned her head to look at Julian. He was standing motionless, his silver eyes fixed on her. He didn't beg, he didn't make empty promises, and he didn't reach for her. He simply held the silver pen out toward her.

"Is the custody addendum attached to this page?" Evelyn asked Julian, her voice steady.

"Page three," Julian replied. "Equal legal rights. Joint authority."

"And the twelve month dissolution clause?"

"Page five," Julian said. "Unchanged."

Evelyn stepped forward and took the heavy silver pen from Julian's hand.

Without breaking eye contact with Arthur Vance, Evelyn bent over the glass table, flipped to the final page of the document, and pressed the pen firmly against the line.

Her signature was bold, clear, and unbroken.

Thomas immediately stepped up, pressing his heavy steel stamp onto the gold seal with a loud, metallic click. "Registry confirmed and logged, Sheriff."

Sheriff Miller looked down at his phone screen, then folded his court order in half and slipped it back into his pocket. "The quarantine order is void, Arthur. We're leaving."

"Sheriff" Arthur started, his voice sharp with fury.

"We are done here, Mr. Vance," Sheriff Miller interrupted, turning toward the exit. "Deputies, fall out."

As the police officers filed out into the rainy night, Arthur stood alone in the center of the living room, his face tight with quiet rage. He looked at the stamped document on the table, then slowly looked up at Evelyn.

"You really think you solved your problems tonight, Miss Hart?" Arthur asked, his voice chillingly soft.

"I protected my children from you," Evelyn said, keeping her chin up.

"No," Arthur replied, a dark, terrible smile spreading across his pale face. "You just handed them to a man who lied to you before you even stepped into this house."

Evelyn frowned, glancing at Julian. "What are you talking about?"

Arthur turned his gaze back to his son. "He didn't tell you why the clinic mixed up those samples in the first place, did he? He didn't tell you why his donor profile was sitting in an active patient queue at Aegis."

Julian's posture went dead rigid. "Arthur. Leave."

"Tell her, Julian," Arthur urged, taking a slow step toward the hallway door. "Tell your new wife why Aegis had your genetic material ready for implantation on Tuesday morning."

Evelyn looked between the two men, panic rising fast in her throat. "Julian... what is he talking about?"

Arthur paused in the doorway, looking back over his shoulder with a cold, triumphant glint in his eyes.

"Julian didn't lose control of a sample, Miss Hart," Arthur whispered into the silent room. "He commissioned those embryos six months ago. You aren't a patient wh o suffered a clinic mistake, you were used as a surrogate for a contract he signed before he ever met you."