Poor Girl Was Forced To Marry Billionaire Heir In A Coma, Then This Happened

PART 2:

‘ The Sterling family is something else. Holding a wedding for a man in a coma. ‘ I heard the second daughter was supposed to marry him. But the wife switched her out at the last minute. ‘ That poor girl is attending her own wedding alone. What kind of life is that? Welcome to the family, dear. I know this isn’t the wedding any girl dreams of, but thank you for agreeing to this arrangement.

‘ Would you like to meet your husband? ‘  ‘ He doesn’t look sick. ‘ The doctors say his brain activity is normal. He’s simply locked inside himself. The accident happened 3 years ago. We’ve tried everything, every specialist, every treatment, but nothing has worked. Still, I believe in miracles. Maybe, just maybe, having you here will help him find his way back.

‘ Mrs. Sterling, I’ll do my best to take care of him. I promise. ‘ Call me mother. You’re family now. ‘ Hello, Brandon. I’m Emma. I know you probably can’t hear me, but I want you to know that I didn’t choose this. We’re both victims of our families’ arrangements. Still, I’ll try to be a good wife to you.

 I promise I won’t let anyone hurt you. ‘ You just rest. I’ll protect both of us until you wake up, if you wake up. ‘    ‘ Well, well. You must be my cousin’s new wife. Lucky Brandon, although I suppose he can’t appreciate you, can he? ‘ Who are you? ‘ I’m Jason Sterling, Brandon’s cousin. I think it’s a shame that such a pretty woman is being wasted on a vegetable.

‘ Get away from me. ‘ Don’t be shy. My cousin won’t know, and you must be lonely on your wedding night. ‘ You little Touch my daughter-in-law and lose the hand. ‘  ‘ Jason, get out now. ‘ Aunt Catherine, I I was just ‘ I said get  out. Consider yourself on probation. One more incident like this and you’ll be cut off from the family completely.

‘  ‘ I’m so sorry. Jason has always been troubled. Are you all right? ‘ I’m fine. Thank you for coming when you did. ‘ And I want you to understand something. You may have married into this family under unusual circumstances, but you’re under my protection now. Anyone who harms you answers to me.

 Do you understand? ‘ Thank you, Mother. Your family is complicated. But your mother is kind. I think I’m going to like her. ‘ Mrs. Sterling’s orders. She wants you properly outfitted as a member of the Sterling family. ‘  ‘ Much better. Now you look like Brandon’s wife. Today, you’ll be going home to visit your family.

 These gifts are for them. ‘ Mother, this is too much. ‘ Nonsense. This is tradition. The bride returns home with gifts from her new family. Besides, I want your family to see that you’re valued here, that you aren’t some disposable commodity. Is this the legendary jade from that international auction? The one worth a fortune? ‘ These all belong to us now.

Consider them payment for raising you all these years. ‘ These were gifts for me to present to you. You can’t simply take everything. ‘ Don’t talk back to me. Everything you have belongs to this family. ‘ You forced me into this marriage. You used my mother as leverage. The least you can do is let me decide what happens to the gifts my new family gave me.

‘ Sister, you’re part of the Sterling family  now. You don’t need these things. Let Mom and Dad keep them. After all, they’ve done so much for you. ‘ They’ve done so much for me? Like locking my real mother in a facility where I’m not allowed to visit her? Like selling me to a wealthy family so I could marry their comatose heir? Excuse me if I’m not feeling grateful.

Everything is fine, Mother. I’m just catching up with my family. ‘ I’m sending the car. You’re coming home now. ‘ Mrs. Sterling, Mrs. Catherine  Sterling requests your immediate return. ‘ My daughter can come and go as she pleases. ‘ Sir, I wasn’t asking. Mrs. Emma Sterling is returning to the Sterling residence.

Any attempt to prevent that will be reported to the Sterling family’s attorneys  and security office. I don’t think you want that kind of attention. Mrs. Sterling, the madam was concerned. She wanted me to tell you that you never have to return there if you don’t want to. You’re a Sterling now.

 We protect our own. ‘ They hit you. ‘ It’s nothing. I’m used to it. ‘ You shouldn’t be used to it. No one should ever lay a hand on you again. Do you understand? You’re part of this family now, and we don’t tolerate that kind of treatment. ‘ Thank you. Thank you for caring. ‘ Come. Let me show you something. ‘ Talk to him.

‘ The doctors say coma patients can sometimes hear us. Tell him about your day and what happened. Even if he can’t respond, he’s still your husband. Let him know you. ‘ Brandon, I met your mother. She’s wonderful. She defended me against my own family. I hope I hope that someday you’ll wake up and I’ll be able to thank you for having such an amazing mother.

Good morning, Brandon. Let me tell you what happened yesterday. My mother used to take me to Central Park every Christmas. We look at the lights and pretend we were rich enough to shop in all the fancy stores. I wonder if I’ll ever see her again. ‘ Wait for me. ‘  ‘ I’m sorry for invading your space.

 I’m just so tired of being strong. Just for tonight, can I pretend I have a real husband who would protect me? ‘  ‘ Blue diamond shining in a house without love. And I stood  silent while they spoke from above. ‘  ‘ They dressed her in white, sent her down the aisle to marry ‘ [screaming] ‘ Easy. You’ll fall off the bed.

‘ You’re awake. When did you How long have you ‘ I regained consciousness about 2 weeks ago. I’ve been listening ever since. ‘ 2 weeks? You’ve been conscious for 2 weeks and didn’t tell anyone? Why? ‘ Because the accident that put me in this coma wasn’t an accident. Someone tried to kill me. I’ve been pretending to remain unconscious while my doctors and security team gathered evidence.

‘ Jason? It was Jason, wasn’t it? ‘ How did you know? ‘ Because he’s been harassing me since the first night I arrived. He thinks that with you in a coma, he’s the heir apparent. He’s been trying to ‘ Trying to do what, Emma? ‘ It doesn’t matter. Your mother handled it. But Brandon, if you’re awake, why did you let me sleep here last night? That was That wasn’t appropriate.

‘ You were crying. You said you were tired of being strong. I couldn’t lie there and do nothing. ‘ This whole situation is insane. We’re married, but we don’t know each other. You’ve listened to me ramble for weeks, but I don’t know anything about you except what your mother told me. What are we supposed to do now? ‘ Now we get to know each other properly.

You’ve been taking care of me, talking to me, and trying to protect me from Jason. That means something. ‘ Emma, I came to check on Brandon. You’re awake. My baby boy is awake. When? How? Why didn’t you tell me? ‘ [sighs] ‘ Mom, I’m sorry. I regained consciousness 2 weeks ago just as the doctors told you, but we needed to keep it quiet until I could speak and move well enough to confront what happened.

There are things I need to tell you about the accident. ‘ About Jason? ‘ I have recordings, emails, and financial transfers. Enough to prove Jason tried to murder me and take control of the company. ‘ That little monster. I’ll destroy him. He tried to kill my son. ‘ Not yet, Mom. We need more evidence. Other people are involved.

 People inside the company who have been helping Jason embezzle funds. If we move too soon, they’ll destroy evidence and disappear. ‘ What about your marriage to me? I assume that wasn’t your choice, either. ‘ No. It wasn’t. A family advisor suggested the arrangement to my mother while I was in the coma.

 They thought a marriage would improve the family’s image and make the public believe I might recover. I didn’t know about any of it until my awareness returned and I heard you talking about the wedding, but Emma, I’ve spent 2 weeks listening to you. I’ve heard your kindness, your strength, and your dreams. You were forced into this marriage just as I was.

 That doesn’t mean we can’t make something real out of it. ‘ What are you saying? ‘ I’m saying we should give this a real chance. Let’s get to know each other and see whether there’s something here worth building. In the meantime, I’ll protect you from your family and mine. ‘ That’s a wonderful idea. Emma, dear, why don’t you show Brandon around? He’s been confined to this room for 3 years.

 It’s time for him to see his home again. ‘ I might need your help walking. It’s been a long time since I’ve used these. ‘  ‘ Tell me about yourself. Real things, not only the things I overheard while you were talking to comatose me. ‘ What do you want to know? ‘ [laughter] ‘ Everything. Start with why you agreed to marry me.

Your family forced you, but you could have run away. Why didn’t you? ‘ My real mother. She has cancer. My father remarried Victoria, and Victoria controls access to my mom. They told me that if I refused to marry you, I would never see her again. ‘ Where is your mother now? ‘ I don’t know.

 Victoria had her transferred to some facility, but she won’t tell me where. I haven’t seen her in 6 weeks. ‘ We’ll find her. I promise you, Emma, we’ll find your mother and get her the best care possible. ‘ Why are you being so kind to me? You You don’t even know me. ‘ During the past 2 weeks, I listened to you talk to me every day.

I’ve learned more about you than I know about people I’ve known for years. You’re kind and brave. And you stayed with a stranger in a coma because you made a promise. That means something.  ‘ [screaming] ‘ Speaking of problems. ‘ WHERE IS HE? WHERE’S MY COUSIN? ‘ I heard a rumor that my dear cousin woke up.

 But that can’t be true, can’t it? Because if it were, he’d be dead within the week. ‘ Jason Sterling, you’re drunk. Leave now, or I’ll have you removed by force. ‘ You can’t do anything to me, old woman. I’m family. ‘ Actually, she can. I’m the head of this family now, and you, cousin, are trespassing. ‘ You You’re supposed to be in a coma.

How? When did you ‘ I regained consciousness 2 weeks ago. I’ve been listening, watching, and gathering evidence. ‘ Evidence? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Once Brandon’s dead, the company is mine. The old lady won’t have the choice. And the woman he married? What about her? ‘ She doesn’t matter.

 Once I’m in charge, I’ll have the marriage annulled. Or maybe I’ll  keep her around for entertainment. She’s pretty enough. ‘ That’s taken out of context. Get out of my house. By tomorrow, I’ll have filed police reports, restraining orders, and civil claims. Your access to the Sterling fortune is terminated effective immediately.

 Your position at Sterling Industries is over. If you ever come near my wife again, you’ll answer to me and the law. ‘ Aunt Catherine, you can’t let him do this. I’m family. ‘ Family doesn’t try to murder family. Get out, Jason. You’re no longer welcome here. You need to rest. You just woke from a 3-year coma. You can’t overdo it. ‘ I’m fine.

I just need a moment. ‘ Brandon, dear, you should see a doctor and make sure you’re truly healthy. ‘ I will. But first, I need to do something. Come with me to my office. There’s someone I need you to meet. ‘  ‘ Marcus Toriano, this is my wife, Emma Sterling. Emma, Marcus is my head of security and the person who has been helping me gather evidence against Jason.

‘ Ma’am, I’ve heard a great deal about you from Mrs. Catherine Sterling. ‘ Marcus, I need you to find someone. Emma’s mother, Rachel White. She was transferred to a medical facility 6 weeks ago, but Emma doesn’t know where. Find her today. ‘ I’m on it, boss. A preliminary search shows a likely match at Hillside Psychiatric Facility in Connecticut.

 She’s listed under an assumed name. ‘ A psychiatric facility? My mother doesn’t have psychiatric problems. She has cancer. ‘ Marcus, I want medical transport ready in 2 hours. We’re bringing Emma’s mother here to our private medical wing. Get our best oncologist on standby. ‘ Brandon, that’s too much. ‘ Emma, your stepmother put your sick mother in a psychiatric facility to manipulate you. That isn’t merely cruel.

It may be criminal. We’re fixing it right now. She might not recognize you immediately. Psychiatric facilities sometimes over medicate patients. ‘ [snorts and music] ‘ Mom! Mom, it’s me. It’s Emma. I’m taking you home. Mom? ‘ Emma, my baby girl. ‘ Get her onto the helicopter. I want her evaluated immediately.

 You’ll be hearing from my attorneys. You placed the cancer patient in a psychiatric facility and kept her heavily medicated while denying her proper oncology care. That is medical malpractice at the very least. ‘  ‘ The good news is that the cancer hasn’t spread significantly since her last treatment.

 The bad news is that she has been denied proper care to be immediately. ‘ Do whatever it takes. Money is no object. ‘ With proper treatment, Mrs. White has a good prognosis. The cancer is advanced but treatable. I would estimate a 70% chance of full recovery. ‘ I don’t know how to thank you. You barely know me and you’ve done all this.

‘ You’re my wife. This is what husbands do. They protect their wives and care for their families. ‘ Is that what we are? A real family? ‘ I’d like us to be, but that’s up to you. I won’t force you into anything. We were both victims of circumstance. Maybe if we give this a chance, we can build something good from it.

‘ Brandon, the White family is here. Richard, Victoria, and Olivia. They’re demanding to see Rachel and Emma. ‘ Perfect timing. I’ve been wanting to speak with them. ‘ This is kidnapping. You can’t simply take my wife. ‘ Your wife? You mean the woman you abandoned in a psychiatric facility? The woman whose medical care you neglected while you spent money  intended for her treatment on luxury goods? ‘ There has been a misunderstanding.

 We only wanted what was best for Rachel. ‘ Best for her? You put a cancer patient in a psychiatric ward and had her drugged into compliance. You used her as leverage to force  me into marriage. There is no misunderstanding here. Only cruelty. ‘ Touch my wife and lose the hand. That isn’t a threat, it’s a promise.

‘ Who do you think you are? ‘ I’m Brandon Sterling, chief executive officer of Sterling Industries with a personal net worth of approximately 3.2 billion dollars. More importantly, I’m Emma’s husband,  which means I have both the resources and the motivation to destroy you. Here is what will happen. You will sign over all medical decision-making authority for Rachel White to Emma.

You will return every gift given to you after our wedding. And you will  stay away from Emma and her mother permanently. ‘ You can’t just ‘ Or my attorneys can file complaints for fraud, medical neglect,  coercion, extortion, and every other offense supported by the evidence. Your choice. ‘ Fine. We’ll sign whatever you want.

 But I expect compensation for raising Emma all these years. ‘ Compensation for abusing a child? No. In fact, I’ll make sure every charity, private club, and social organization in New York knows exactly what kind of people you are. Good luck maintaining your standing after that. Sign now. Two words that end the war.

‘ Yeah, is it really over? Are they truly gone? ‘ They’re gone. If they ever bother you again, they’ll regret it. ‘ Why are you doing all this for me? We barely know each other. ‘ Because during the two weeks I was conscious but publicly unresponsive, I listened to you. You told me about your dreams, fears, and hopes. You read books to me.

‘  ‘ You sang when you thought no one could hear. You were kind to a stranger in a coma. That tells me everything I need to know about who you are. ‘ What happens now? With us, I mean. ‘ Now we get to know each other properly. No more secrets and no more pretending. Just two people discovering whether an arranged marriage can become something real.

‘ I’d like that. ‘ Good, because I should warn you. I’m awake now. Which means I’m going to be much more demanding than comatose Brandon was. I’ll expect real conversations, actual dates, and perhaps even a little affection. ‘ Demanding, are you? I think I can handle that. ‘ I hate to interrupt, but the doctors want Brandon for a complete evaluation.

Emma, your mother is asking for you. ‘ Dinner tonight? Just the two of us. Let me take my wife on a proper first date. ‘ I’d love that. I’m so happy. I was worried about this arranged marriage, but watching the two of you together, I think you might actually fall in love. ‘ Mother, it’s too soon to talk about love.

‘ Dear, I was married for 35 years. I know what the beginning of love looks like, and I’m seeing it now. Emma, baby, where am I? The last thing I remember clearly is Victoria  saying something about a wedding. ‘ Mom, a lot has happened, but you’re safe now.  The best doctors are treating you, and I’m I’m married to a good man.

 I think you’ll like him. ‘ Married? Emma, you’re only 22. Who did they make you marry? ‘ I’m so sorry, baby. I should have protected you from Richard and Victoria. Instead, I became sick, and you had to handle everything alone. ‘ It isn’t okay that I was forced into this marriage, but I think the marriage itself might turn out well.

Brandon is kind, his mother is wonderful, and for the first time in my life, I feel safe. ‘ Mom, you’re okay. ‘ I’m here now, baby. ‘ I missed you so much. ‘ Emma, ‘  ‘ I called my favorite restaurant and asked them to deliver their best dishes. I hope you like Italian food. ‘ I love Italian food.

But, Brandon, you don’t have to do all this. ‘ Yes, I do. We started this marriage in the worst possible way. Let me try to do something right tonight. For the next few hours, we aren’t the arranged marriage couple. We’re simply Brandon and Emma getting to know each other on a first date. ‘ I’d like that. ‘ A teacher? What would you teach? ‘ Art.

I love painting, but I never finished college because I had to work to help pay for Mom’s treatments. ‘ What if you could go back to school, ‘  ‘ finish your degree, and become the teacher you always wanted to be? ‘ Brandon, I can’t ask you to pay for that. ‘ You aren’t asking. I’m offering. Emma, you’ve given up so much of your life to care for other people.

 Let me take care of you for a change. ‘ Why are you so good to me? ‘ Because you deserve it. During those 2 weeks, I heard the sadness in your voice whenever you talked about the dreams you had abandoned. I want to help you reclaim them. ‘ Thank you for everything, for saving my mother, protecting me from my family, and giving me another chance at the life I thought I had lost.

‘ Dance with me. ‘ There’s no music. ‘ Now there is. Now there is. Emma, I know we started this all wrong, but I want you to understand that I’m in this for real. I want to make our marriage work, not because we’re legally bound, but because I genuinely like you. I think that with time, we could even love each other.

‘ I think I’d like that, too. ‘ Good, because I’m not letting you go, Emma Sterling. You’re stuck with me now. ‘ [laughter] ‘ I think I can live with that. ‘ Boss, I’m sorry to interrupt, but we have a problem. Jason has filed a lawsuit claiming you’re mentally incompetent. He’s also challenging Emma’s marriage to you and trying to have himself installed as interim head of the family and company.

‘ Of course he has. He can’t let me be happy for even one evening. ‘ I’m sorry. I need to handle this. ‘ Then we’ll handle it together. I’m your wife, remember? For better or worse, this qualifies as worse. ‘ You don’t have to share ‘ Yes, I do. You fought for me. Now let me fight for you. ‘ Thank you. Thank you for standing beside me.

‘ Always. That’s what wives do. ‘ I don’t care what Jason’s attorney is claiming. I have medical records proving that I’m fully competent. I want the lawsuit dismissed. ‘ Good morning. I’m sorry if I woke you. ‘ I couldn’t sleep anyway. Brandon, what exactly is Jason claiming? ‘ He’s arguing that because I only recently emerged from a 3-year coma, I’m not mentally fit to run the company or make major decisions about my personal life.

 He also claims the marriage was arranged by my mother while I was incapacitated, so it never had my valid consent. He wants to be appointed interim CEO and have our marriage annulled. ‘ Annulled? But after you woke, you chose to remain married to me. ‘ Exactly. My attorney’s prepared documents confirming that I knowingly and voluntarily ratified our marriage as soon as I was medically able to do so.

Jason’s lawyers are exploiting the fact that the original license and ceremony happened while I was unconscious. It’s a weak challenge, but we may still need a court hearing to establish my competency and confirm the legal effect of my ratification. ‘ So there’s a chance we aren’t legally married? ‘ I consider us married and our lawyers believe the marriage is valid.

 But if a court says the original arrangement lacked my consent, then we’ll marry again, properly this time, with both of us standing at the altar by choice. I’m not losing you, Emma. Not to Jason and not to a legal technicality. ‘ Breaking news, a shocking scandal rocks the Sterling Group. An investigation reveals details of financial misconduct and this could lead to major repercussions for the company.

‘ Have you two seen the morning news? ‘ Sources close to the Sterling family claim that Brandon Sterling’s recent marriage was arranged while he was in a coma, raising questions  about consent and mental competency. The bride, Emma White, comes from a modest background and has been accused by family members of being a gold digger who took advantage of a vulnerable man.

‘  ‘ They’re making it sound as though I wanted this, as though I manipulated you. ‘ They’re going to regret this. Marcus. ‘ Already working on it, boss. We traced the so-called  family source to Jason’s publicist. The White family has been giving interviews, too. ‘ We tried to warn Emma not to take advantage of the situation, but she was so eager to get her hands on the Sterling fortune.

‘  ‘ I’m just worried about Mr. Sterling. Emma stole the wedding that was meant for me. She can be very manipulative. I hope he’s safe and that she isn’t controlling him. ‘ They’re lying. They forced me into this marriage. ‘ I know. We’re going to prove it. Dig up everything on the White family. Financial records, messages, facility records, all of it.

 If they coerced Emma into this marriage, evidence exists.  Find it. ‘ Good. I’m also calling a press conference for this afternoon. We’re telling  our side of the story. ‘ Thank you all for coming. I’m here to address the rumors and allegations surrounding my marriage and my competency. First, let me state unequivocally that I am recovering well and am mentally competent.

 Three independent physicians have evaluated me and certified that I am capable of managing both my personal affairs and Sterling Industries. Second, regarding my marriage to Emma Sterling. The arrangement and original ceremony did occur while I was unconscious. Neither Emma nor I freely chose those circumstances. After I recovered consciousness and learned the full truth, however, I knowingly and voluntarily chose Emma as my wife.

 I ratified our marriage through legal counsel, and I intend to renew my vows publicly if any court requires a new ceremony. My relationship with Emma is now consensual, committed, and not a weapon for my cousin to use. ‘ What about THE ALLEGATION THAT EMMA WHITE IS A GOLD DIGGER WHO MANIPULATED YOU? ‘ Emma did not choose this marriage. Her family coerced her by using her sick mother as leverage.

Far from being a manipulative gold digger, Emma is a victim whom I am proud to call my wife. ‘ I want to address the lies my stepmother and stepsister have spread. I didn’t steal anything from Olivia. My father and stepmother told me only days before the wedding that I was marrying Brandon.

 They hid my biological mother, who has cancer, in a psychiatric facility and threatened that I would never see her again if I refused. I was 22 years old and terrified. I didn’t want to marry a stranger, but I believed I had no choice. I was lucky because the man I was forced to marry turned out to be kind, honorable, and strong. He saved my mother.

 He protected me from my abusive family. And yes, I’m falling in love with him. Call me whatever names you want. I know the truth. That is all for today. ‘ The Sterling family will not debate baseless accusations in the media. We have provided medical records addressing Brandon’s competency, and our attorneys will be pursuing defamation claims against anyone who knowingly spread lies about my son and daughter-in-law.

 Good day. ‘  ‘ Did I say too much? Was I too emotional? ‘ You were perfect. Honest, vulnerable,  and strong. They won’t be able to dismiss you as a gold digger after that. ‘ Baby, I saw the press conference. I’m so proud of you. ‘ Mom, I’m frightened. What if the court rules against us? What if they annul the marriage? ‘ Emma, listen to me.

That young man looks at you as if you hung the moon. Whether your first ceremony is legally valid or not, he isn’t letting you go. More importantly, you love him, don’t you? ‘ I do. I love him. When did that happen? ‘ Love doesn’t follow a timetable, sweetheart. Sometimes it arrives in an instant.

 The question is, what are you going to do about it? ‘ I’m going to fight for him. For us and for the life we’re building. ‘ That’s my girl. ‘ How is the case preparation going? ‘  ‘ It’s going. The hearing is in two days. My attorneys are confident, but Jason’s team is bringing expert witnesses who will claim that anyone emerging from a three-year coma could not possibly be competent to make major decisions  immediately.

‘ What do you need from me? ‘ Just this. You being here and believing in me. ‘ Always. But Brandon, I need to tell you something. ‘ What is it? ‘ At the press conference, I said I was falling in love with you. That wasn’t just for the cameras. It’s true. ‘ Emma, you don’t have to say that simply because I love you, too.

I think I started falling while I was still publicly trapped in that coma and you climbed in the bed beside me because you needed comfort. You were so brave and vulnerable at the same time. I wanted to wake up right then and protect you. ‘ So you’re saying you fell in love with me while pretending to be unconscious? That has to be the strangest beginning to a love story ever.

‘ It’s definitely going into the story we tell our children someday. ‘ Children? ‘ If you want them. Someday when we’re ready. No pressure. ‘ I’d like that. Someday. ‘  ‘ Boss, we found something in Victoria White’s financial records. Look at this. Two weeks before the wedding, Victoria White received $500,000 from an account controlled by Jason Sterling.

‘ Jason paid my stepmother? Why? ‘ There’s more. We found email correspondence between Jason and Victoria going back six months. Jason planned the entire arrangement. The records show they coordinated every step to hide the transfers. This proves the conspiracy goes deeper than we thought.

 He believed that if he could force Emma into a marriage with Brandon while Brandon was unconscious, he could later use the questionable consent and publicity to destabilize Brandon’s position. Then he would argue that Brandon was permanently incompetent and take control of the company. So, Jason paid Victoria to force Emma into a marriage with me intending to use that same marriage against both of us later.

That appears to be the plan. That’s conspiracy, fraud, coordination, and probably a dozen other crimes. ‘ My stepmother sold me for half a million dollars. ‘ It gets worse. There are messages between Victoria and Jason discussing how to handle you if you became a problem. They planned to have you committed to a psychiatric facility, just as they did with your mother.

They would make you appear unstable so your testimony about the forced marriage would not be believed. ‘ They were going to lock me away. They were going to make me disappear. ‘ They were, but they failed. Now we have proof of their conspiracy. Send everything to my attorneys and the district attorney’s office.

 I want criminal complaints filed against Jason and Victoria by morning. ‘ This means the court will know I was forced into the marriage. Everyone will know I’m not a gold digger. ‘ Everyone will know the truth. Jason’s lawsuit won’t merely fail. He’ll be facing criminal charges. ‘ Your Honor, we have presented evidence that the lawsuit questioning Mr.

Sterling’s competency and marriage was part of a conspiracy orchestrated by the plaintiff himself. We move to dismiss the complaint with prejudice and request sanctions against Jason Sterling and any attorney who knowingly participated in the scheme. ‘ This is one of the most egregious attempts to manipulate this court that I have seen in 30 years on the bench.

The plaintiff’s motion concerning Mr. Sterling’s competency is denied, and the complaint is dismissed with prejudice. The evidence also shows that Mr. Sterling, after regaining consciousness, knowingly ratified his relationship with Emma and had the capacity to do so. Any remaining technical question about the original ceremony does not support the relief Jason Sterling Teague’s.

Furthermore, I am referring this matter to the Bar Association for investigation of counsel’s conduct. Mr. Jason Sterling will remain in custody pending proceedings on the criminal charges already filed against him. ‘ YOU’LL PAY FOR THIS. I SWEAR IT. ‘ MOVE IT. NOW. It’s over. We’re free. ‘ A little to the left, dear.

Perfect. Emma, dear, we need to discuss Christmas dinner. As the lady of the house, you should choose the menu. ‘ Lady of the house? Mother, this is your home. ‘ This is Brandon’s home and makes you the lady of the house. I’m merely visiting. ‘ Emma, come with me. I have something to show you. ‘ Where are we going? ‘ You’ll see.

Welcome to our house. I bought it last week. I wanted us to have a place that belongs to us where we can build our life together without my mother, wonderful as she is, hovering over us. ‘ You built me an art studio. ‘ You said you wanted to paint again. Now you can. There’s something else. Open it. I asked the counselor to help assemble your records and applications.

All three schools accepted you. The Sterling Foundation is offering full scholarships administered through the same independent program it uses for other  students. You can begin in January if you want. ‘ You did all this for me? ‘ Of course I did. Emma, you gave up your dreams to care for your mother.

You were forced into a marriage you didn’t want. Yet you remained strong and brave through everything. I wanted to give those dreams back to you, the life you should have had. ‘ Thank you for everything, for saving Mom, believing in me, and loving me. ‘ Thank you for being my wife, my partner, and my love.

‘  ‘ Merry Christmas, Mrs. Sterling. ‘ Merry Christmas, Mr. Sterling. I I something to tell you. ‘ What is it? ‘ I’m pregnant. I found out yesterday. The doctor says I’m about 6 weeks along. ‘ We’re having a baby? ‘ We’re having a baby. I know it’s fast and we’ve only truly been together for a few weeks, but But Brandon ‘ No but, this is perfect. You’re perfect.

Our baby is perfect. ‘  ‘ Mother, Mom, we have an announcement. We’re expecting a baby. ‘ A grand baby? This is the best Christmas present ever. My baby is having a baby. I’m going to be a grandmother. ‘ What are you thinking about? ‘ I’m thinking about how I went from being forced into an arranged marriage with a man in a coma to being completely happy with the love of my life.

‘ I was thinking something similar. About how I woke from a coma expecting to be alone and instead found the most extraordinary woman waiting for me. ‘ You two have taught me something important. Sometimes the worst situations can lead to the best outcomes. If Emma hadn’t been forced to marry you, Brandon, she might never have found this love.

And you might have awakened alone. And if I hadn’t permitted that marriage while you were in a coma, which I admit was a controversial and deeply imperfect decision, none of this would have happened. Emma would not have been there when you needed a reason to reveal that you were awake. ‘ To controversial decisions that somehow lead to happy endings.

 To family, the one we’re born into and the one we choose. To second chances and Christmas miracles. ‘  ‘ You’re spoiling. ‘ It’s my job to spoil both of my girls. How was your last day of the semester? ‘  ‘ Professor Martinez says I’m one of her best students. If everything continues like this, I’ll graduate next December with honors.

‘ I’m so proud of you. Art teacher Emma Sterling has a wonderful ring to it. ‘ Thank you, Brandon.  I couldn’t have done it without you. Do you know what else has a wonderful ring to it? Brandon Sterling, CEO of Sterling Industries and Businessman of the Year. ‘ We’ve both come a long way from the coma patient and his reluctant bride.

‘ I think I’ll title our memoir The Bride Who  Didn’t Run. It’ll be a bestseller. ‘ [laughter] ‘ What do you want to do? ‘ I’ll write back. Nothing long, just an acknowledgement that she’s trying. I don’t forgive her yet. Maybe I never will. But I can recognize that she’s attempting to change. ‘ That’s generous of you.

‘ I can afford to be generous. I have everything I ever wanted. Why hold on to hatred? ‘ What are you smiling about? ‘ I’m thinking about how much I love our life. How much I love you. And how perfectly everything turned out despite the worst beginning imaginable. ‘ Emma Sterling, you are the best thing that ever happened to me.

I love you more today than I did yesterday. And I love you even more tomorrow. ‘ Merry Christmas to family, to love, and to the miracles that happen when we’re brave enough to hope. ‘