Victoria slowly descended the glass stairs with complete composure and pride.
Her expensive gold dress shimmered under the bright daylight filling the foyer.
Victoria: I see you found your wife doing her daily household tasks.
Mark took three sharp steps toward the bottom of the glass staircase.
Mark: Tasks? You forced my pregnant wife to scrub floors on her hands and knees!
Victoria paused on the bottom step and took a slow sip of her wine.
Victoria: Do not raise your voice at me in my own house, Mark.
Mark: This is not your house! My name is on the deed to this estate!
Victoria's smile faded slightly as her eyes narrowed with sharp annoyance.
Victoria: I built this family's reputation while you were away playing soldier!
Victoria: That girl is lazy and comes from nothing, Mark.
Victoria: She needed to learn how to serve a high-status family properly.
Mark rushed forward across the white marble floor toward his mother.
He stopped right in front of her, blocking her pathway into the room.
Mark: You monster! How could you treat anyone like this?
Victoria stepped back in surprise, losing her balance on the polished step.
Her wine glass slipped from her fingers and crashed onto the marble floor.
The glass shattered into tiny pieces, spilling red liquid across the white tile.
Victoria gasped dramatically as she caught herself on the glass handrail.
Victoria: You dare speak to your own mother with such disrespect?
Mark: You lost the right to my respect when you harmed my family!
Mark turned back toward Clara and gently took her by the hand.
He led her away from the broken glass and brought her to the sofa.
Victoria followed them into the center room, her face red with anger.
Victoria: She is using you for your money and this mansion, Mark!
Mark: She has never asked me for a single dollar in her life!
Victoria: You are ruining this family's future for a common maid!
Mark reached into his coat and held up his smartphone toward Victoria.
Mark: I have every single hour of your abuse recorded on camera.