The heavy front double doors opened again, and two police officers in dark blue uniforms walked straight into the grand marble room. The red and blue lights from their car flashed through the front glass, painting the white columns in bright colors.
Officer Davis: "Mr. Christopher Vance?"
Christopher: "Yes, Officer. Thank you for getting here so fast."
Officer Davis: "We received the emergency report from your firm's legal team regarding bank fraud and elder abuse."
Victoria: "Officer, listen to me! This is a private family matter! My husband is just mad at me over a small fight!"
Officer Davis: "Ma'am, please stay on the floor until we finish speaking with Mr. Vance."
Christopher: "Officer, I have the full video files and the bank transfer records right here on this drive. It shows three hundred thousand dollars stolen from a non-profit fund, along with physical threats against my domestic worker."
Christopher handed a small silver flash drive to the officer, who slipped it into his pocket and looked down at Victoria with a stern face.
Officer Davis: "Victoria Vance, please stand up and put your hands behind your back."
Victoria: "No! Get away from me! You can't touch me! Do you know who my family is?!"
Officer Miller: "Ma'am, do not make this harder on yourself. Stand up now."
Victoria kicked her legs out, her red silk gown twisting around her knees as the second officer reached down and pulled her up by her arms. The metal handcuffs clicked loud and clear as they snapped around her wrists.
Victoria: "Christopher! Tell them to stop! You are ruining my life over a servant!"
Christopher: "Margarethe is more of a human being than you will ever be."
Victoria: "I will sue you for everything you have! I will take this house, the trust fund, and every single car in the garage!"
Christopher: "You signed a prenuptial agreement before we got married, Victoria. Section twelve states that any criminal act against the family or the foundation voids every single dollar of your settlement."
Victoria stopped screaming, all the color instantly leaving her face as she looked at Christopher's cold eyes. She had forgotten about the contract she signed three years ago.
Officer Davis: "You have the right to remain silent, Victoria Vance. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."
The two officers turned her around and marched her out through the massive front doors. Her expensive red dress dragged across the dirty floor as she was led down the stone steps toward the back of the police cruiser.
Margarethe stood by the wall, letting out a long, quiet breath as the sound of the police car doors slamming shut echoed through the yard. Christopher turned around, walking over to the old woman and taking both of her shaking hands into his own.
Christopher: "I am so sorry I let her treat you like that for so long, Margarethe."
Margarethe: "You didn't know, child. You were working hard to keep everything going."
Christopher: "That is no excuse. From this day on, you are never touching a mop or a bucket in this house again."
Margarethe: "Oh, Christopher... cleaning is my job. What else would I do?"
Christopher: "You are going to retire. You are going to live in the guest house near the garden, and I am going to pay you a full salary for the rest of your life."
Margarethe brought her hand up to her mouth, fresh tears filling her eyes—but this time, they were tears of pure joy and relief.