Evelyn: "Get off me! Julian, tell them to stop! You're making a huge mistake!"
Officer Miller: "Ma'am, stop resisting!"
The officer forced Evelyn's arms behind her back, clicking the cold steel handcuffs around her wrists with a sharp snap. Evelyn shrieked in anger, her heels scraping wildly against the marble floor as she tried to pull away.
Evelyn: "Julian! I'll sue you! I'll hire the best lawyer in the state and take half your company!"
Julian: "You don't have a dollar left to hire a lawyer, Evelyn. And no judge in this country is going to give a penny to a child abuser."
Officer Miller: "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."
Evelyn: "Clara, you little bitch! This is all your fault!"
Julian stepped directly in front of the officer dragging Evelyn, his dark eyes fixed on her with absolute authority.
Julian: "If you ever say another word to my daughter, I will double the legal team prosecuting you."
Officer Miller: "Let's move, ma'am."
The police officers dragged Evelyn through the grand double doors. Her high-pitched screams faded down the gravel driveway until the heavy doors were pushed shut by the security guards, leaving a deep, peaceful silence inside the mansion.
Julian let out a long, heavy breath, turning around to face his small daughter, who was standing quietly near the base of the staircase.
Julian: "Clara... come here, sweetie."
Clara ran across the hall and threw her arms around her father's neck. Julian lifted her up into his arms, holding her tightly against his shoulder as he walked toward the living room sofa.
Clara: "Is she really gone, Daddy?"
Julian: "She is gone forever, Clara. She is never coming back into this house, and she is never going to hurt you again."
Clara: "I was so scared when she dragged me... I thought you weren't coming home."
Julian: "I will always come home for you. Always. I am so sorry I didn't see what was happening sooner."
Clara: "It's okay, Daddy. You saved me."
Julian sat down on the leather sofa, keeping Clara wrapped in his suit jacket as the family doctor entered through the front door with his medical kit.
Doctor Evans: "Julian, I came as fast as I could. Is Clara okay?"
Julian: "Please check her knees and her scalp, Doctor. She was dragged across the marble floor."
Doctor Evans: "Let's take a look, sweetie. You're safe now."
As the doctor gently applied soothing ointment to Clara's scrapes, Julian took his daughter's small hand in his, squeezing it softly.
Julian: "Tomorrow morning, we're taking a long vacation. Just you and me."
Clara: "Where are we going?"
Julian: "Anywhere you want in the world. The beach, the mountains, wherever you desire."
Clara: "Can we bring Mommy's favorite picture with us?"
Julian: "We can bring everything that matters. And when we come back, we're going to turn this place into a real home again."