Julian: Stop this right now!
Victoria: Julian, sweetheart, I was just trying to help her up! She came barging into the private hallway carrying that glass and tripped over her own heels!
Julian: Do you think I'm completely blind, Victoria?
Victoria: What are you saying? I’m telling you the truth! She’s trying to make a scene to ruin our anniversary gala!
Julian ignored Victoria completely, stepping past her shimmering gold dress as his polished dress shoes clicked sharply against the wet marble floor. He knelt beside Maya, dropping his custom leather portfolio to the side. Without hesitation, he pulled a silk handkerchief from his breast pocket and gently held her face, wiping the cold red liquid from her cheeks and hair.
Julian: Maya... look at me. Are you hurt?
Maya: Julian... I'm sorry... I tried to walk away, I swear I did...
Julian: Don't apologize. You have nothing to apologize for. It's over now. I'm right here.
Victoria: Julian Vance! Get away from her this instant! She is a maid's daughter who doesn't even belong in this house!
Julian: She is my late brother's rightful daughter, Victoria. Which makes her the sole legal owner of this entire estate.
Victoria: That is ridiculous! My lawyer drew up the inheritance documents six months ago! The estate belongs to me!
Maya: Julian, she made me sign those papers... she said if I didn't sign, she would destroy my mother's legacy...
Julian: Those papers are worthless, Maya. Coerced signatures hold no weight in probate court, especially when obtained under physical threat.
Maya looked up through her tears, her eyelashes heavy with moisture as Julian comforted her. She reached up with a trembling hand, holding onto his arm as if he were her only lifeline in the hostile house.
Victoria: You have no proof of coercion! It's her word against mine! The household staff will all swear that I treated her like a daughter!
Julian: Is that so? You think the staff will lie under oath for a woman who hasn't paid their wages in three months?
Victoria: I am the mistress of this mansion! They will say whatever I tell them to say!
Julian: You really think you can hide behind your money and your lies forever, don't you?
Victoria: I don't need to hide! There were no witnesses in this hallway, Julian. Nobody saw a single thing except you and me, and no judge will take her side over mine!
Julian slowly stood up from the floor, taking off his suit jacket and placing it tenderly over Maya's soaked shoulders to shield her from the cold draft. He turned to face Victoria, his expression turning stone-cold and unreadable.
Julian: You always were too arrogant to pay attention to details, Victoria.
Victoria: What details? What are you talking about?
Julian raised his right arm, extending a single finger and pointing directly up at the high ceiling molding right above the archway.
Julian: There's a camera.