The police officer escorted the weeping, screaming Victoria out through the grand double doors, her high heels dragging against the front steps as she was placed into the back of the police cruiser.
Inside the foyer, David stood up while holding Lily safely against his chest, turning his gaze toward Elena.
David: "Elena, are your knees okay? You slid very hard on that marble."
Elena: "I'm fine, Mr. Vance. A few bruises on my knees are nothing compared to what would have happened to little Lily."
David: "Come sit in the living room. I want to talk to you."
Elena: "Sir, I should finish cleaning the hallway—"
David: "No more cleaning today, Elena. Sit down. Please."
They walked into the spacious living room, where David carefully placed Lily on the velvet sofa, handing her a stuffed teddy bear from the chair.
Lily: "Is Victoria going to come back, Daddy?"
David: "Never, sweetheart. She is going to stay in jail for a very long time."
Lily: "Good. She was mean to Elena every day when you were at work."
David froze, turning his head sharply toward his daughter.
David: "What did you say, Lily?"
Lily: "Victoria yelled at Elena every day. She made her scrub the floor with a tiny toothbrush."
David: "Elena... is this true?"
Elena lowered her head, her hands trembling as she smoothed down her blue apron.
Elena: "I didn't want to bother you, Mr. Vance. Victoria threatened to fire me and make sure I never got another job in Dallas if I complained to you."
David: "She threatened you?!"
Elena: "She said she was the mistress of this house now. She told me you would always take her side over a servant."
David: "I would never tolerate anyone being mistreated in my home, Elena. Why didn't you come to my office?"
Elena: "I needed this job, sir. My mother is sick in the hospital, and the medical bills are very high. I couldn't afford to be fired."
David took a deep breath, shaking his head in disbelief and disgust at his ex-wife's cruelty.
David: "Victoria knew about your mother's condition, didn't she?"
Elena: "Yes, sir. That's why she knew I wouldn't quit."
David: "She used your mother's illness to force you into silence..."
Elena: "It doesn't matter now, sir. Victoria is gone, and Lily is safe."
David: "It matters a great deal, Elena. You risked your own life and your job to save my daughter today."
David walked over to his mahogany desk in the corner of the room, pulling out a leather-bound folder containing his estate documents.
David: "Do you know why Victoria was so desperate to get rid of Lily?"
Elena: "No, sir. I thought she just disliked children."
David: "My late wife left a thirty-million-dollar trust fund exclusively for Lily. If Lily were to pass away or become incapacitated before turning eighteen, the trust fund money would automatically transfer to the surviving spouse—which was Victoria."
Elena gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.
Elena: "She... she wanted the trust fund money?!"
David: "She married me for my wealth, but she wanted total control of my late wife's estate. Dropping Lily wasn't an accident. It was a planned attempt to claim that money."
Lily: "Daddy, I don't like Victoria. I want Elena to stay with us."
David: "Elena is never going to leave us, Lily. In fact, things are going to change starting today."