By three o'clock in the afternoon, Daniel's black SUV pulled up the long brick driveway of his luxury mansion.
Two police cruisers were parked near the front fountain, their emergency lights flashing quietly against the white stone pillars.
Inside the grand foyer, suitcases were scattered across the polished floor, and Vanessa was screaming at two uniformed police officers.
Vanessa: You have no right to touch my things! I am a resident of this house!
Officer Ramirez: Ma'am, Mr. Vance is the sole owner of this property. He has issued a formal criminal trespass warning against you.
Vanessa: My clothes are upstairs! My designer shoes are in the walk-in closet!
Daniel: Your clothes are being packed by my staff right now, Vanessa.
Vanessa whipped around, her eyes wild with anger, her green robe replaced by a sleek designer dress.
Vanessa: Daniel! Tell these officers to leave! You are making a huge mistake!
Daniel: The only mistake I made was letting you enter my home six months ago.
Vanessa: I gave up my life in New York to move here for you! You promised me a family!
Daniel: You wanted my money, my status, and my mansion. You never cared about me, and you certainly never cared about my daughter.
Vanessa: That little brat ruined everything! She purposely set me up so you would hate me!
Daniel: She is an eight-year-old child, Vanessa! How delusional are you?!
Officer Ramirez pulled a pair of handcuffs from his utility belt, stepping closer to Vanessa.
Officer Ramirez: Miss Montgomery, we also have a warrant for your arrest issued by the Dallas County Sheriff's Department.
Vanessa: What?! A warrant for what?!
Officer Ramirez: Felony injury to a child under fourteen years of age.
Vanessa: Arrest?! You can't arrest me! Do you know who my father is?!
Daniel: Your father is currently meeting with his bankruptcy attorneys, Vanessa.
Vanessa: What are you talking about?! My father is a millionaire!
Daniel: He was a millionaire, until I exercised my legal right to call in his fifteen-million-dollar defaulted loan one hour ago.
Vanessa: You... you ruined my family's business?!
Daniel: Your family ruined itself by thinking your wealth put you above the law.
Officer Ramirez grabbed Vanessa's wrist, snapping the cold steel cuff into place with a sharp metallic click.
Vanessa: Let go of me! Daniel! Help me! You can't let them take me to jail!
Daniel: I am not saving you, Vanessa. You brought this entire nightmare on yourself the moment you laid hands on my child.
Vanessa: I'll sue you! I'll tell the news reporters that you framing me!
Beatrice: Save your breath, Miss Vanessa. The security cameras in the hallway caught everything on tape, including your voice screaming at the child.
Vanessa froze, her face draining of all color as she looked up at the tiny black camera lens mounted high on the foyer wall.
Vanessa: No... no, that camera was turned off!
Daniel: I turned the security system back on two weeks ago when I noticed money missing from the study safe.
Vanessa: You... you knew?!
Daniel: I was waiting for the right moment to confront you about the money. But you forced my hand when you hurt Aurora.
The officers escorted the weeping, screaming woman out through the double front doors, shoving her into the back seat of the police car.