Victoria's heavy hand swung through the air toward Elena's face.
A sharp gasp rippled through the gathered crowd of guests.
Before the hand hit, a firm grip caught Victoria's wrist.
The sudden stop echoed softly against the high ceilings.
David Sterling stood tall, holding his wife's arm in mid-air.
He was the owner of the massive Sterling family estate.
His face was dark with deep disappointment and cold anger.
David: Don't you dare touch her again!
Victoria pulled her arm back in complete surprise and shock.
Victoria: David! She was bothering our daughter!
David: She was comforting a crying child, Victoria.
David looked down at the little girl on the floor.
The child was still hiding her face near Elena's apron.
Elena stood trembling, her eyes fixed on the shiny floor.
David stepped closer to the young maid in the white apron.
He looked closely at Elena's pale, emotional face.
Something about her expression seemed to hit him deeply.
He noticed the way the child held Elena's hands without fear.
David felt a strange realization begin to settle in his mind.
He remembered the strange circumstances of his daughter's adoption.
Three years ago, Victoria had arranged everything through a private agency.
She had insisted on keeping the birth records completely secret.
David had trusted his wife back then without asking questions.
Now, looking at Elena, a painful doubt filled his heart.
The little girl had never hugged Victoria like this before.
She always hid when Victoria walked into the room.
David turned back to face Elena with a gentle voice.
David: Tell me... did you ever have a daughter?
Elena looked up into his intense brown eyes.
A heavy tear rolled down her pale, reddened cheek.
Elena: Yes... she was taken from me.
Victoria stepped forward quickly with a furious look.
Victoria: David, stop talking to the house staff!
David: Be quiet for once in your life, Victoria.
David looked back down at the weeping young maid.
David: Where was she born, Elena?
Elena: At St. Jude Memorial, four years ago.
David's breath caught sharply in his broad chest.
That was the exact hospital listed on the adoption papers.
He remembered the large payments Victoria made that same month.
The trust fund money had been transferred to a private clinic.
David felt a cold shiver run down his spine.
He looked at Elena and then at the little girl.
The physical resemblance between them was suddenly very clear.
They shared the exact same blue eyes and small chin.
David took a slow step toward the little girl.
He knelt down beside Elena on the cold marble floor.
David: Your search is over. She's your daughter.