Charles: Hannah, give him to me! Let me see him!
Hannah: Be very careful, Mr. Charles! His back and chest are burned!
Charles: Oh God... Leo! Baby, look at daddy! I'm here!
Charles took his sobbing three-year-old son from Hannah's arms, holding him with extreme care as he looked down at the bright red blister forming on the toddler's back. Tears welled up in Charles's eyes, mixing with the dark fury on his face.
Leo: Daddy... mean lady burned me with the hot metal!
Charles: Shh, I know, baby. I'm so sorry. Daddy is right here. You're safe now.
Down on the marble floor, Victoria scrambled onto her hands and knees, clutching her bruised elbow as she looked up at her husband with wide, panicked eyes.
Victoria: Charles, please listen to me! I was just trying to iron my dress for the gala!
Charles: Don't you dare lie to me! The iron was pressed against my son's skin!
Victoria: He tripped into me! He knocked into the ironing board! I was trying to block him from falling!
Hannah: That is a complete lie, Mr. Charles! I saw her holding it down on him with my own eyes!
Victoria: Shut up, you worthless maid! You don't speak in front of my husband!
Charles: Shut your mouth, Victoria! Hannah has worked for my family for six years! I trust her with my life!
Victoria: She wants to ruin our marriage! She's jealous of my position in this estate!
Charles: Look at his back! Look at the shape of the mark! That was no accident!
Charles pointed a trembling finger at the fresh injury on his son's small back. The distinct triangular outline of the clothes iron was burned clearly into the toddler's skin.
Victoria: Charles, darling... please. We can take him to a private clinic. No need to involve police or doctors who might talk to the press.
Charles: You think I give a damn about the press right now?! You hurt my child!
Victoria: If you call 911, the family firm's stock will crash! Think about your company inheritance!
Charles: My son is my life! My company means nothing compared to his safety!
Charles turned to Hannah, his voice tight with desperation as he tried to keep his hands from shaking.
Charles: Hannah, go to my study. Grab the emergency burn kit from the cabinet and dial 911 immediately!
Hannah: Yes, sir! Right away!
Victoria: No! Hannah, don't you dare touch that phone!
Victoria tried to jump up from the floor to block Hannah, but Charles stepped directly into her path, his tall frame towering over her in his burgundy velvet blazer.
Charles: Take one more step toward her, and I swear to God you won't walk out of this house on your own feet.
Victoria: Charles, you can't throw away three years of marriage over a maid's testimony!
Charles: Our marriage ended the second you brought that iron near my boy.
Victoria: I am your wife! I have legal rights to this house and your trust fund!
Charles: You have nothing! The prenuptial agreement specifically states that any criminal act or cruelty against my biological heir instantly voids every single penny of your allowance!
Victoria's face drained of all color as the realization hit her. The arrogant smile she had worn for years completely vanished.
Victoria: You... you put that in the prenup?
Charles: My late wife made me promise to protect Leo before she died. I put that clause in to protect him from greedy monsters like you!
Victoria: Charles, please! I was stressed! The doctors said my nerves have been bad!
Charles: Tell that to the judge when they lock you behind bars!
In the background, the rapid sound of sirens began to faint in the distance, growing louder as emergency vehicles sped toward the Dallas estate.