Daniel: Shut your mouth, Martha! I saw you push her with my own eyes!
Martha: She would have been crushed if I didn't shove her out of the way!
Elena: Daniel... my stomach hurts so bad... help me up!
Daniel dropped to his knees beside his wife, folding his pocket knife and shoving it back into his tuxedo pocket.
Daniel: Stay still, honey. Don't move! I'm calling an ambulance right now!
Martha: Don't move her legs! Keep her flat on her back until the paramedics check her bump!
Daniel: Get away from us! Don't you dare touch my wife again!
Martha: Look up at the ceiling, Daniel! Look at the chandelier mount!
Daniel looked up toward the high foyer ceiling, his eyes widening in confusion.
The heavy iron chain supporting the massive crystal chandelier was partially cut, hanging by a thin strand of frayed metal wire.
Daniel: What... what is that?
Martha: Someone rigged the fixture to fall the moment someone stepped on the fifth stair!
Elena: Daniel... she's telling the truth... I heard a loud snap above my head right before she grabbed me!
Daniel: No, this doesn't make sense! Why would anyone target us in our own home?!
Martha: Because your stepbrother turned twenty-five today, Daniel. The inheritance terms expire at midnight!
Daniel froze, his face losing all its color as he looked from the maid back to the shattered glass on the floor.
Daniel: Julian? Julian is still in New York at his apartment!
Martha: He isn't in New York. I saw his rental car parked behind the guest house twenty minutes ago!
Elena: Daniel... my water just broke... the baby is coming early!
Daniel: Oh God! Elena, hold my hand! Hold on, baby!
Martha: I'll get clean towels and ice from the kitchen! Stop yelling at me and help your wife breathe!
Martha rushed down the hallway toward the kitchen, her navy uniform rustling as her old legs moved as fast as they could.
Daniel cupped Elena's face, his hands shaking uncontrollably as he wiped the tears from her red cheeks.
Daniel: I'm so sorry, Elena... I lost my temper... I thought she was trying to hurt you.
Elena: She saved our baby, Daniel... you slapped an innocent woman!
Daniel: I'll make it right, I swear I will! Just focus on breathing!
Heavy footsteps clicked against the front porch steps outside the massive double doors of the estate.
The brass doorknob turned slowly, and a tall man in a dark trench coat stepped into the bright marble foyer.
Julian: Well, well, well... looks like the happy family had a little accident.
Daniel: Julian?! What are you doing here?!
Julian: I came to collect what's rightfully mine, dear brother.
Julian looked down at Elena lying on the marble, a cold, cruel smile spreading across his face.
Julian: Too bad the chandelier missed its main target. But a fall down the stairs works just as well for my legal defense.
Daniel: You monster... you set that trap for my wife!
Julian: I set it for both of you. If you don't have a living heir by midnight, Father's trust fund transfers entirely to me.