The bright light in the room made every drop of blood on the light oak floor look clear and terrifying. Marcus carefully put his hands under Hannah's head, raising her up away from the sharp pieces of crystal. His heart was beating fast in his chest as he saw how much she was shaking. Blood from her palm was soaking directly into the wrist of his white shirt.
Marcus: Hannah! Baby, look at me! Can you hear my voice?
Hannah: Marcus... my hand... the glass...
Marcus: Don't move! Just stay completely still! I'm right here with you!
Jessica: Marcus, don't touch her! She's faking it! She cut herself on purpose to make me look bad!
Marcus: I saw your shoe on her arm, Jessica! I saw you crushing her into the floor with my own eyes!
Jessica: She pushed me first! I was only trying to protect myself!
Marcus: You're a liar! You've been lying to this family since the day you moved into our guest house!
Marcus held his wife closer, using his own body to shield her from Jessica's wild movements. Hannah squeezed her eyes shut as another wave of pain hit her arm. She had lived through years of quiet threats from Jessica, but today had crossed a dangerous line that could never be undone.
Hannah: She wanted... she wanted the key, Marcus... from the safe...
Marcus: Don't talk right now, sweetie. Save your strength.
Jessica: She's out of her mind, Marcus! She broke into your private study! I caught her trying to steal the estate documents!
Marcus: The estate documents belong to my wife! She is the sole heir to the Vance inheritance!
Jessica: She gave up those rights three years ago when she walked out on this family!
Hannah: You forged... you forged my signature, Jessica... on the trust fund papers...
Hearing those words made Jessica step forward again, her red dress rustling loudly in the quiet hall. Her high heels clicked sharply on the oak planks as she raised her hands in total denial. Her face was flushed red with anger and fear.
Jessica: Don't you dare accuse me of forgery! I saved this company when your father died!
Marcus: You didn't save anything! You stole ten million dollars from the family trust and tried to frame Hannah for it!
Jessica: That money was my rightful management fee! I earned every single penny managing this mansion!
Marcus: You're a leech, Jessica! My stepmother brought you into this house out of pity, and you've done nothing but destroy us!
Jessica: Your stepmother gave me full authority over this estate before she passed away!
Marcus: My stepmother was sick, and you manipulated her while she was on her deathbed!
Hannah gasped, her weak voice barely carrying across the large room. She lifted her left hand slowly and pointed toward the corner of the hall near the wide stairs.
Hannah: The camera... Marcus... check the security feed on your phone...
Jessica: There is no security feed! The system has been offline for maintenance all week!
Marcus: The main foyer camera is on a separate emergency backup loop, Jessica. It never turns off.
Jessica froze in place, her posture turning stiff. She slowly looked back up at the small black dome high up on the wall. The little red light was still blinking, recording every second of her voice and movements. The red color drained right out of her face, making her freckles stand out clearly against her white skin.
Jessica: No... no, that's impossible... the technicians told me it was disconnected!
Marcus: I reconnected it myself this morning before I left for the courthouse.
Jessica: Marcus, please... listen to me... we can work this out privately!
Marcus: The only place we're going to work this out is in a courtroom!
Marcus reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone. His fingers moved fast across the screen as he unlocked the video app. Seeing what he was doing, Jessica lunged forward with her long red nails extended, trying to snatch the phone right out of his hands. Marcus was ready for her and blocked her easily with his elbow, pushing her back hard.
Marcus: Touch me again and I will throw you out those doors myself!
Jessica: You can't show that video to anyone! It violates my privacy!
Marcus: You lost your right to privacy the moment you assaulted my wife in our home!
The phone screen lit up bright in Marcus's hand, displaying the live cloud backup page. Right at the top of the list was a fresh five-minute video clip. The thumbnail clearly showed Jessica standing high over Hannah with her heel raised up in the air.
Hannah: Play it, Marcus... let her hear it...
Jessica: Marcus, I'm begging you! Don't push play!