Victoria stumbled against a stone pillar, her manicured hand immediately flying up to cover her bright red, swelling cheek. Her eyes were wide with pure disbelief, her breathing heavy and frantic as she stared at Caleb.
Victoria: You... you put your hands on me?! In front of everyone?!
Caleb: Touch my little brother again and see what happens, Victoria! I double-dare you!
Victoria: He’s out of his mind! He just tried to murder your father in the guest house!
Caleb: Shut your mouth! Noah is nine years old! He wouldn't hurt a fly, and you know it!
Maya: Noah, look at me, baby. Look at Maya. Are you hurt? Is any of this your blood?
Noah: No... no, Maya... it’s not mine...
Maya: NOAH, WHAT HAPPENED? Tell me right now!
Noah: I... I HURT DAD... I didn't mean to, Maya! I swear I didn't mean to!
Victoria: See?! He admitted it! The little psycho confessed right in front of your whole wedding party!
Victoria stepped forward again, her teeth bared in pure malice, her voice dropping into a deadly whisper that made the surrounding guests shiver in discomfort.
Victoria: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY NEXT, NOAH! Remember what we talked about in the hallway!
Caleb: Back off, Victoria! I said back off!
Maya: Don't look at her, Noah. Look at me. Caleb and I are right here. Nobody is going to touch you.
Noah: She was giving Dad the white pill again, Maya... the one that makes his eyes go sleepy...
Victoria: He's making things up! The child is disturbed! He needs to be taken to a facility immediately!
Caleb: What white pill, Noah? What were you doing in the guest house before the ceremony?
Noah: Dad was sitting in the chair... he couldn't wake up. I tried to pull the glass away from her hand, but she pushed me...
Maya: Oh my God... Caleb, look at his hands. He has defensive bruises on his wrists!
Caleb: Victoria... what did you do to my father?
Victoria: I didn't do anything! Your father has been sick for months! His doctors said his heart was failing!
Caleb: His heart wasn't failing until you married him six months ago!
Noah: The glass broke, Caleb... Dad fell off the chair and hit his head on the table... there was so much blood...
Maya: Charles is hurt downstairs! Caleb, we need an ambulance right now!
Victoria: Nobody calls anyone! This is a private family matter!
Caleb: Marcus! Call 911! Tell them we have a medical emergency and a physical assault at the main estate!
Marcus: On it right now, Mr. Caleb!
Victoria: You’re making a huge mistake, Caleb! You’re going to ruin this entire family over a child’s lie!
Caleb: The only mistake made in this house was letting a snake like you sign a marriage certificate with my father!
Caleb picked Noah up into his arms, feeling the young boy’s heart hammering wildly against his chest. Maya stood up beside them, holding her wedding dress train off the floor, her eyes burning with a fierce determination as she stared down Victoria.
Maya: We're going to the guest house right now.
Caleb: Stay behind me, Maya. If Victoria’s private security is down there, things are going to get ugly fast.
Victoria: You won't find anything down there except a crime scene caused by that boy!
Caleb: Then you shouldn't have any problem walking down there with us, stepmother.