Victoria: "Nanny cams? You put hidden cameras in the chandelier?!"
Julian: "My late wife installed them when Lily was born. They record in four-K resolution with full spatial audio recording."
Victoria: "You... you were spying on me?!"
Julian: "I was protecting my child! I noticed Lily flinching every time you walked into the room for the past two weeks!"
Victoria: "Julian, turn off that phone right now! We are husband and wife! You cannot use covert surveillance against your spouse!"
Julian: "I can, and I will. In fact, the footage from five minutes ago has already been uploaded automatically to our secure cloud server."
Julian turned the phone screen toward Victoria. On the high-definition display, the video was crystal clear. Victoria could be seen grabbing the bucket of ice water, walking over to the trembling child, and callously dumping it straight over her head while Lily screamed in terror.
"You'll stay cold until you learn!" Victoria's recorded voice echoed loudly from the phone speaker.
Victoria: "Shut it off! SHUT IT OFF!"
Victoria lunged forward, her long fake nails reaching out to snatch the device from Julian's hand.
Julian: "Touch me and I'll lay you out on this marble floor!"
Julian stepped back effortlessly, shoving her away with his forearm. Victoria stumbled back, her designer heels catching on the slippery puddle of ice water as she crashed heavily onto the hard tile.
Victoria: "OW! You pushed me! That's assault! I'll sue you for millions!"
Julian: "Go ahead and try! Every lawyer in the state of Florida knows my firm! By tomorrow morning, every asset you thought you were gaining through our marriage will be frozen!"
Victoria: "You signed a prenup that guarantees me five million dollars if we divorce!"
Julian: "Read clause fourteen of that prenup, Victoria! Any act of felony cruelty or criminal child abuse completely voids your financial settlement!"
Victoria gasped, her face draining of color as she sat on the wet marble floor surrounded by melting ice cubes.
Victoria: "Julian... please... don't do this to me... I was stressed! I lost my temper!"
Julian: "You didn't lose your temper. You methodically prepared a bucket of ice water, walked into the foyer, and tortured a helpless four-year-old child."
Lily: "Daddy... my head feels funny..."
Julian looked down at his daughter. Her eyes were fluttering, her body still shivering uncontrollably beneath his suit jacket.
Julian: "Hang on, Lily. Daddy is taking you to the doctor right now."
Victoria: "Julian, if you leave this house with her, I'll call my father's legal team! We'll tie you up in court for years!"
Julian: "Your father's hedge fund is already under federal investigation for fraud, Victoria. Who do you think tipped off the SEC last week?"
Victoria's jaw dropped in absolute shock. She stared at him as if looking at a total stranger.
Victoria: "You... you turned my father in?!"
Julian: "I knew what kind of family I was dealing with the moment I caught you asking my estate lawyer about Lily's trust fund terms. You never loved me, and you certainly never loved my daughter."