Before Victoria could touch Clara again, Evelyn stood up straight with intense fury.
The elderly woman moved faster than anyone had ever seen her move before.
She stepped directly between Victoria and Clara with her posture upright and strong.
Evelyn raised her right hand and delivered a hard, loud slap across Victoria's cheek.
The sharp sound echoed off the polished marble floors of the grand hall.
Victoria stumbled backward into a chair, gasping in total shock and disbelief.
She held her reddened cheek with both hands as her eyes grew wide.
The whole room went dead silent as every single guest gasped in unison.
Evelyn: Don't you ever dare touch my child again!
Victoria: You slapped me in front of all these important people?
Evelyn: You are a greedy snake who only cares about my bank account!
Victoria: I am your real family! She is just a dirty waitress!
Evelyn: She is my true blood, and you are leaving this home today!
Victoria looked around the room, feeling completely humiliated by her mother's words.
None of the wealthy guests stepped forward to defend Victoria's terrible behavior.
They had all seen Victoria try to physically attack the young working girl.
Evelyn turned her back on Victoria completely, dismissing her without another thought.
Victoria stomped her foot in anger and ran out of the room crying.
The heavy doors slammed shut behind Victoria as she fled down the corridor.
Evelyn let out a long breath as her anger slowly faded into warmth.
She turned around toward Clara, who was standing frozen against the table wall.
Clara had never seen anyone stand up for her like that in her life.
Her foster parents had died when she was just a small young child.
She had grown up learning that she had to fight every battle alone.
Seeing this powerful mother defend her brought warm tears to Clara's eyes.
The relief in the room was palpable as the tension finally broke down.