Leo: It was her! Victoria pushed her over the railing!
The heavy accusation hung in the clear morning air like a dark cloud, freezing the room into absolute silence. Mark felt his blood run completely cold, his eyes locking onto Victoria with a terrifying mix of disbelief and rising rage. Victoria's composure faltered for a fraction of a second, her eyebrows twitching before she quickly forced a soft, dramatic gasp of fake offense onto her face. She took a step back toward the indoor hallway, pressing her manicured hand over her heart as if she were the true victim of a baseless slander. The bright morning light showed every subtle detail of her calculated expression, making her performative shock look entirely hollow to the furious father kneeling on the ground.
Victoria: Mark, that is an absolute lie! The boy is clearly confused and terrified!
Leo: I am not lying! You grabbed her toy and pushed her near the edge!
Victoria: Shut your mouth, you rude little brat!
Mark: Don't you dare scream at my son!
Mark gently set Lily down into Leo's protective arms, instructing his brave boy to hold his sister tight against the safety of the interior wall. The father stood up to his full height under the bright midday sun, his tall frame blocking the doorway as he faced the woman he had trusted with his heart. His fists clenched so tightly at his sides that his nails nearly bit into his palms, the veins along his neck bulging with righteous fury. He took three long strides toward Victoria, forcing her to step back onto the marble floor under the shadow of the flag. She raised her chin arrogantly, attempting to use her wealthy family background to intimidate him into backing down from the horrifying truth.
Victoria: You are really going to take the word of an eight-year-old kid over mine?
Mark: My son does not lie about his sister's life!
Victoria: He has hated me since the day I moved in with my custody lawyer's advice!
Mark: You monster! How dare you try to kill my daughter!
Without a second thought, driven by an overwhelming wave of paternal protection, Mark raised his open palm and forcefully slapped Victoria hard across the face. The heavy impact crackled loudly through the air, sending her stumbling sideways before she lost her balance and crashed onto the polished floor. Her designer handbag spilled open, scattering costly makeup, legal documents, and personal items across the white marble surface. Victoria let out a high-pitched scream of shock, holding her rapidly reddening cheek as she stared up at Mark in complete horror. The arrogant mask had finally slipped completely away, leaving only pure panic in her dark eyes as Mark stood over her like an absolute wall of defense.
Victoria: Ah! You hit me! I will sue you for everything you own!
Mark: Get out of my house before I have you arrested!
Victoria: You can't talk to me like that! I have rights in this estate!
Mark: You have no rights here anymore! Leave now!
Mark pointed his arm toward the front entrance of the penthouse mansion, his voice booming with absolute authority under the bright daylight. Victoria scrambled to her knees, her neat hair falling into messy strands over her flushed face as she picked up her scattered belongings from the floor. She glared at Mark with intense hatred, realizing that her charm and lies could no longer save her from the truth. Leo watched from the balcony corner, holding Lily closely as his father stood guard between them and the dangerous woman who had tried to destroy their family. Victoria pulled herself up, wiping her cheek awkwardly as she backed away toward the grand wooden front doors of the residence.