Victoria looked at the bright tablet screen. For a brief second, a flash of fear crossed her eyes, but she quickly smoothed her gold dress and crossed her arms haughtily.
Victoria: You're using estate security cameras to spy on me?! I am your mother!
Julian: You are an assailant, Victoria. And in less than an hour, you are going to be a criminal defendant.
Victoria: Defendant?! Are you out of your mind?! You're going to drag your own family name through the mud for a servant girl?!
Sarah: Mrs. Vance, I am Julian's lead legal counsel. I strongly advise you to remain silent. Everything you say in this room is being recorded on the study audio system.
Victoria: Shut up, Sarah! You work for the Vance empire because I signed your retainer checks!
Julian: You didn't sign anything, Mother. My father's trust fund paid your allowance. But those allowance checks stop today.
Victoria: Allowance?! I built this family's social standing! Without me, you would be nothing in high society!
Julian: High society doesn't respect a woman who attacks a defenseless pregnant girl with scissors[cite: 1, 1]. When this video leaks to the press—and believe me, it will—your social standing will be completely destroyed.
Victoria's hands began to tremble. She looked from Julian to Sarah, realizing for the first time that her son wasn't bluffing. The absolute authority she had held over the estate for twenty years was crumbling around her feet.
Victoria: Julian... please. We can handle this privately. I'll apologize to the girl! I'll give her a financial settlement!
Julian: Her name is Elena. Not "the girl." She is my wife, the future mother of my child, and the true lady of this mansion.
Victoria: What do you want from me, Julian? What do I have to do to make you drop these charges?!
Julian: You're going to pack one small suitcase with your personal clothes. No jewelry bought with my father's money. No estate credit cards. You leave this house in twenty minutes.
Victoria: Where am I supposed to go?! All my friends are attending the charity gala tonight!
Julian: You can stay at a cheap hotel downtown. Because by tomorrow morning, your bank accounts will be completely locked pending the court trial.
Outside the study windows, the red and blue lights of two police patrol cars flashed against the grand stone driveway. Sirens echoed softly as two uniformed officers stepped out of their vehicles and walked toward the front entrance.
Marcus: The police have arrived, Mr. Vance.
Julian: Show them in, Marcus. Tell them the suspect is right here in the study.
Victoria backed away toward the bookshelves, her face turning pale as paper as the heavy footsteps of police officers echoed down the hallway.
Victoria: Julian, don't do this! I am your mother! You can't let them arrest me in my own home!
Julian: You stopped being a mother the moment you raised a blade against my child.