Victoria backed away toward the bottom step of the grand white staircase.
She tried to pull her gold satin dress loose to fix the shape.
David: Is this true, Victoria?
Victoria: David, please let me explain, it's not what it looks like!
David: Did you lie to me about our baby?
Victoria: I only did it because I was afraid of losing you!
Clara: You did it for the family estate trust fund and the mortgage money!
Victoria turned her head sharply toward Clara with pure hatred in her eyes.
Victoria: Mind your own business, Clara! You always hated me!
Arthur: That is enough!
Arthur struck his wooden cane firmly against the marble floor with a loud thud.
The sound echoed off the tall walls and made Victoria jump in surprise.
Arthur: You brought fraud into my house and lied to my son!
Victoria: Arthur, please, I love David with all my heart!
David: Stop talking, Victoria. Just stop talking right now.
David reached down and unhooked the back zip of Victoria's outer coat mantle.
A thick pale gold sofa cushion fell out and dropped onto the floor.
It bounced lightly twice on the polished white marble right at their feet.
Several guests gasped out loud, while others pulled out their own phones.
Victoria stood exposed in front of fifty wealthy community leaders and business partners.
Her stomach was completely flat beneath her tight gold satin dress inner lining.
Tears of embarrassment and anger started flowing down her heavily painted cheeks.
She looked around the bright room and saw only disgust on every face.
Arthur reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his private mobile phone.
He dialed a three-digit number and held the phone close to his ear.
Arthur: I need the local sheriff at my residence immediately for criminal trespass and fraud.