A loud, heavy thud echoed through the room as Victoria’s body hit the table, sending dessert plates, glass stands, and layers of frosting crashing to the floor. She let out a sharp, ear-piercing shriek as the remains of the multi-tiered cake collapsed over her dark burgundy dress.
Victoria: "Ahhh! My dress! You brute! Look at what you've done to me!"
Richard: "Get up!"
Before she could recover her balance, Richard grabbed her firmly by her upper arm, pulling her out of the crushed cake with an iron grip. Frosting smeared across her arms and hair as she struggled against his hold.
Victoria: "Let go of me! You're hurting my arm!"
Richard: "You don't know what real hurt is, Victoria. But you're about to find out."
Victoria: "You can't treat me like this! I have rights in this house!"[cite: 1]
Richard: "You have zero rights in my house!"[cite: 1]
Richard stepped back toward the table, where the centerpiece cake had been completely smashed. Resting right beside the ruined pastry was a customized acrylic card reading 'Wedding Reception & Vow Renewal,' completely covered in scattered frosting and cake debris.
Richard: "Look at this card, Victoria. Look at it!"
Victoria: "It's just a card for our vow renewal! So what?!"
Richard: "This vow renewal was supposed to celebrate five years of marriage. It was supposed to show that we were a united family."[cite: 1]
Victoria: "We CAN be a family if you stop letting that brat come between us!"[cite: 1]
Richard: "Lily doesn't come between us. Your greed and your hatred do!"[cite: 1]
Lily buried her face into Richard’s blue suit jacket, whimpering softly as her father held her tighter[cite: 1]. Guests were pulling out their smartphones, recording every single second of the explosive argument[cite: 1].
Guest 1: "Did you see that? She actually shoved the poor kid's face into the cake!"
Guest 2: "I recorded the whole thing from the dessert line. She grabbed her hair!"
Victoria: "Stop filming me! All of you, turn those cameras off right now!"
Richard: "Let them film! I want every single person in Dallas to see exactly what kind of monster you are!"[cite: 1]
Victoria: "Richard, please... you're ruining my reputation! My family's trust fund is tied to our public image!"
Richard: "Your trust fund is about to be the least of your concerns."
Richard reached into his suit pocket with his free hand and pulled out his phone, holding it up to his ear as he dialed a direct line.
Victoria: "Who are you calling? Is that your lawyer?"
Richard: "No, Victoria. I'm calling the police."
Victoria: "The police?! For a little family argument?!"
Richard: "For child abuse and assault."