Fourteen-year-old Maya stood near the entrance of the grand dining room.
She was wearing her school uniform, carrying her backpack over one shoulder.
Maya was Adrian's older daughter from his first marriage.
She had remained quiet and distant ever since Elena moved into the home.
Maya rarely spoke during family meals and kept mostly to her upstairs room.
Now, she walked steadily across the polished marble floor of the foyer.
Her face was completely calm, but her young eyes were sharp and focused.
In her right hand, she held her bright blue smartphone tightly.
Adrian: Maya, go back to your room right now.
Adrian: This is not something you need to see.
Maya: No, Dad, you need to look at this right now.
Elena turned around, her polished smile flickering for a brief second.
Elena: Maya, honey, Clara made a terrible mistake today.
Elena: Your father is handling the situation like he should.
Maya: Stop talking to me, Elena.
Maya walked straight past the woman in gold and stood before her father.
She raised the screen of her phone directly to Adrian's eyes.
The phone was playing a clear video recorded in high resolution daylight.
Maya had set up a security camera system for her school tech project.
She had placed a small lens near the upper banister just yesterday afternoon.
The video clearly showed the top of the grand marble staircase.
On the screen, Clara was seen walking carefully toward the steps.
She was holding both hands firmly on the handle of the baby stroller.
Elena was trailing right behind her, looking left and right nervously.
When Clara reached the top step, Elena extended both of her hands.
The video showed Elena deliberately shoving Clara hard in the back.
The push sent Clara tumbling headfirst down the steep marble flight.
The carriage accelerated rapidly as Clara threw her body down after it.
The entire action was captured with absolute, unquestionable clarity.
Adrian watched the footage play once, then twice, in complete silence.
The color drained entirely from his face as his eyes widened in shock.
The loud anger that filled him a moment ago vanished into pure horror.
He looked at the screen, then looked up slowly at his new wife.
Adrian: You lied to me...