The silence in the grand foyer was so heavy that the soft drip of water from Evelyn's dress sounded like thunder against the marble floor. Victoria scrambled up off her knees, her green satin dress ruined, her face pale as a sheet. Her mind was racing frantically, trying to find a way to spin the situation in her favor before her dream of wealth vanished into thin air. She took a step toward Daniel, reaching out her trembling hands to touch his arm, but he immediately stepped back away from her touch.
Victoria: Daniel, baby, please listen to me! It was a total mistake!
Daniel: A mistake? You just told me a temp cleaner attacked you!
Victoria: I didn't know she was your mother! She was wearing a maid dress!
Evelyn: So it is acceptable to treat a maid like trash, Victoria?
Evelyn walked calmly toward the marble table, stepping right through the puddle without showing any sign of fear or hesitation. She reached into her apron pocket once more and pulled out the small black recording device. The little red light was still blinking steadily, showing that every single word, splash, and scream had been captured with crystal clear audio quality. She held it up between her thumb and forefinger for both of them to see under the bright morning sunlight.
Evelyn: I returned home early to surprise my son before the wedding. I wanted to see your true heart, Victoria.
Victoria: You tricked me! You set me up on purpose!
Evelyn: No one forced you to grab that bucket. No one forced you to dump cold water on an elderly woman's head.
Daniel's face turned from confusion to deep, dark anger as he looked at Victoria. He loved his mother deeply; she had raised him alone after his father passed away while managing a international real estate firm. The thought of anyone disrespecting her in her own house made his stomach turn with disgust. He pulled his cell phone from his jacket pocket with quick, sharp movements, his hands steady despite the anger boiling inside his veins.
Daniel: Victoria, pack your things right now and get out of my house.
Victoria: Daniel, no! We are getting married in two weeks! Think of the guests!
Daniel: There will be no wedding. The engagement is officially over.
Victoria: You can't do this over a little misunderstanding! My father spent thousands on the dress!
Evelyn: Your father's debts are not my son's responsibility, Miss Sterling. We know about his bankruptcy trial next month.
Victoria gasped loudly, taking two steps backward until her back hit the cold framed flag hanging on the wall. She realized in that exact moment that her carefully crafted lie had completely collapsed. The Vance family was far too smart, and her greed had walked her straight into a trap of her own making. She looked at Daniel with pleading eyes, but his face was set like solid concrete, showing no mercy whatsoever.