Victoria’s face turned completely pale as tears of horror formed in her eyes. The arrogant, aggressive attitude she had carried just five minutes ago completely vanished. She stumbled back a step, her high heels catching on the smooth surface of the marble floor. Her hands shook as she looked at her husband's furious expression.
Richard: You framed an innocent worker in my own home! Why would you do something so evil?
Victoria: Richard, please! Listen to me before you make a terrible mistake!
Richard: The only mistake I made was trusting you! Tell me the real reason, Victoria!
For months, Victoria had been hiding a massive secret from her wealthy husband. She had built up enormous personal debts from high-stakes gambling and secret luxury purchases. She desperately needed cash to pay off a private settlement before her creditors exposed her to the Dallas press. She knew that if she reported the three-hundred-thousand-dollar necklace stolen by a staff member, the home life insurance policy would pay out the full cash value directly into her personal bank account.
Sarah: You wanted me to go to jail just to collect insurance money?
Victoria: Shut up! You are just a maid! You don't speak to me!
Richard: She has every right to speak! You tried to destroy her life for your own greed!
Victoria: Richard, we can work this out privately! We don't need to involve anyone else!
Richard: Privately? You humiliated this girl in front of my security staff! You called her a thief!
Sarah wiped the wet tears from her face, her sadness slowly turning into a quiet sense of strength. She had done nothing wrong. She had spent three years cleaning this mansion, working extra hours, and treating this family with total respect, only to be used as a scapegoat for a spoiled woman's hidden financial crimes.
Sarah: I gave everything to my job here, Mrs. Sterling. I trusted you.
Victoria: You should be grateful you even have a job in this house!
Richard: She won't be working for you anymore, Victoria. Because you won't be living in this house by tonight.
Victoria: What? What are you saying, Richard?
Richard: I am saying our marriage is completely over. I am calling my divorce lawyer right now.
Victoria gasped loudly, clutching her green silk dress near her chest as her entire world began to crumble around her.