The massive wooden entrance doors swung wide open with a loud creak.
Cold afternoon air rushed into the warm mansion foyer.
A tall man stepped into the house surrounded by four uniformed guards.
It was Richard Sterling, wearing a dark navy Italian suit.
His face was pale with exhaustion from his long flight.
However, his dark eyes burned with immediate, intense fury.
He stopped dead in his tracks right inside the doorway.
He saw his young son trembling on the cold marble floor.
He saw Elena kneeling protectively over the weeping boy.
And he saw Victoria with her arm raised in anger.
The entire grand room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence.
Richard: What is the meaning of this?
Victoria froze in place as her face instantly lost all color.
Her raised hand dropped back down to her green dress.
Victoria: Richard! You... you came back early!
Richard: Answer my question right now, Victoria!
Victoria: Darling, it is not what it looks like at all!
Leo: Daddy! Daddy, help us!
Richard stepped past the security guards with fast, heavy strides.
The sound of his shoes echoed loudly across the hallway floor.
He dropped to one knee beside Elena and his crying son.
Richard: Leo, are you hurt? Tell me what happened!
Leo: She pushed me, Daddy! She told me to get out!
Elena: She tried to throw him out of the house, Mr. Sterling.
Victoria: She is lying to you, Richard! That maid is lying!
Elena: Look at his elbow, sir. It is already bruised.
Richard gently picked up his son's small arm and inspected it.
A dark purple spot was forming near Leo's swollen elbow joint.
Richard's jaw clenched tightly as his heart pounded with rage.
He stood up slowly and turned toward his green-dressed wife.
Richard: Is this how you care for my son while I am away?
Victoria: The boy was throwing a huge tantrum, Richard!
Victoria: He slipped on the rug all by himself!
Leo: That is not true! You grabbed my arm!
Elena: She also mentioned taking control of the family trust fund, sir.
Victoria gasped loudly and pointed her long finger at Elena.
Victoria: Shut your mouth, you worthless maid!
Richard: Do not speak to my staff like that ever again!
Victoria: I am your wife, Richard! You must side with me!
Richard: My son comes before everything else in this world.
Richard stepped directly into Victoria's personal space with a menacing glare.
Victoria took a quick step back until her heels hit the bottom step.
Victoria: AHHH!
Victoria: Richard, please, just calm down and listen to me!
Richard: I have listened to your lies for six long months.
He pointed his finger directly into her trembling, pale face.
Richard: Take her away right now! You are going to pay for this!