Victoria emerged from the grand dining room wearing an expensive bright green dress, holding a glass of iced tea. Her smug expression vanished instantly the moment her eyes locked onto Mark standing near the doorway. Her face turned pale, and her hand shook so hard that iced tea spilled over the rim of her glass onto her dress.
Victoria: You came back early...
Mark: WHY ARE YOU MAKING MY DAUGHTER DO THIS WORK?!
Victoria clutched her chest nervously, backing up two steps toward the grand staircase. Her mind raced to find a plausible excuse, but the evidence was plain to see right on the floor. Clara remained on her knees, trembling with fear while looking back and forth between her father and the woman who mistreated her.
Victoria: Mark, please listen to me first! It is just a simple lesson in responsibility and discipline!
Mark: Responsibility?! She is a child! You dressed her in a maid uniform and forced her to scrub floors while I was gone?!
Victoria: She was misbehaving! I am trying to help raise her into a proper young lady while you are away working!
Mark: You are a monster! You took my money and abused my child in her own home!
Mark marched toward Victoria with overwhelming rage filling his chest. The wealthy woman backed up until her heels hit the bottom step of the staircase. She held her hands up defensively, but Mark showed no intention of letting her speak another deceptive word.
He looked down at Clara's red hands and bruised knees. The sight of his innocent daughter treated like a servant in her own home broke his heart into a million pieces. He had given Victoria complete trust, keys to his home, and access to his wealth, only for her to turn their sanctuary into a place of suffering for his daughter.
Victoria: If you fire me, everyone in this town will talk about how unstable your household is!
Mark: I do not care about town gossip! I care about my flesh and blood!
Victoria: Mark, let us talk about this like reasonable adults in your private office!
Mark: CALL 911 NOW!