David: Sarah! What on earth just happened in here?! Why are you on the floor with Chloe?!
Sarah: Mr. Sterling! Oh God, Mr. Sterling!
Sarah sat on her knees on the cold marble, rocking the crying baby back and forth while tears streamed down her cheeks. Her uniform was torn at the knees from the hard slide, but she refused to loosen her grip on the child.
David: Is she hurt?! Did she fall?! Speak to me, Sarah!
Sarah: She... she deliberately dropped the baby! She threw her off the balcony!
David froze in his tracks, his eyes darting from the weeping maid on the floor up to the second-floor railing where Victoria stood frozen in terror.
David: You... you did what, Victoria?
Victoria: David! Darling, listen to me! She's lying! The maid is completely out of her mind!
David: Don't you lie to me! I heard the scream from the driveway!
Victoria: It was an accident, David! I was holding Chloe near the edge to show her the chandelier, and she slipped out of my hands!
Sarah: That's not true! She tossed her up in the air! She told me to say goodbye to her!
David: You monster...
Blazing fury filled David's chest, his jaw clenching so tight his teeth gritted together. He turned sharply toward the grand marble staircase and ran rapidly up the steps, his heavy leather shoes pounding against the stone. Victoria backed away toward the balcony wall, her golden satin dress rustling as her hands shook uncontrollably.
Victoria: David, stay back! You're misunderstanding the situation! We can talk about this like adults!
David: There is nothing left to talk about!
David reached the top of the stairs in three massive strides. Without pausing for a single second, he reached out and delivered a powerful, hard slap directly across Victoria's face. The loud impact echoed through the high-ceilinged mansion like a gunshot.
Victoria: AHH!
Victoria stumbled back against the balcony wall, clutching her reddened cheek in pure shock as tears sprang to her eyes. David stood over her, his finger pointed inches from her nose as he roared at the top of his lungs.
David: Get out of my house immediately, call 911!
Victoria: You... you hit me! You can't talk to me like this! I'm your wife!
David: You are a criminal who just tried to murder my innocent daughter! Get out before I throw you off this balcony myself!