The evening air outside grew cold and quiet.
Maya was finally fast asleep inside her cozy bedroom.
Martha sat quietly beside the sleeping child's bed.
Richard walked down to his private study on first floor.
He locked the heavy wooden door behind his back.
He opened his hidden wall safe behind the painting.
He pulled out the black leather file folder inside.
Inside were the original signatures from his late wife.
He also pulled out a small black USB flash drive.
It held the high-definition security footage from today.
Cameras had been installed in every hallway last month.
Victoria had never known those hidden cameras existed.
Richard plugged the small drive into his laptop screen.
The footage zoomed in clearly on the upper balcony.
He watched the video with a cold heavy heart.
Victoria had intentionally unlatched the safety gate earlier.
She had waited until Maya walked toward the steps.
Then she had deliberately stepped near the child's path.
It was not a careless accident at all.
It was a calculated, cold, and terrible act.
A sharp knocking sounded loudly against his study door.
Victoria stood outside in the dark hallway waiting.
Victoria: Richard, open this door right now!
Richard: I have nothing more to say to you tonight.
Victoria: We need to talk like rational adult partners.
Richard: We are not partners in anything anymore.
Richard opened the door and stared directly at her.
Victoria tried to force a gentle apologetic smile.
Victoria: I know you were shaken by what happened.
Victoria: But you cannot blame me for a slip.
Richard: Look at this laptop screen right now, Victoria.
Victoria stepped inside and glanced at the bright screen.
The video played the clear footage in slow motion.
Her face drained of all color in three seconds.
Her bottom lip began to tremble with sudden panic.
Victoria: Where did you get that video clip from?
Richard: This house records every single corner every second.
Victoria: That camera angle is misleading and completely wrong!
Richard: It shows you unlatching the gate at noon.
Victoria: I was just fixing the loose hinge lever!
Richard: You lied to me about everything from day one.
Richard shut the laptop screen down with a click.
He picked up his cell phone from the desk.
Richard: My attorney is already drafting our divorce papers.
Victoria: You cannot take away my share of estate!
Richard: You will not receive a single dime from us.