Nathan took a slow sip of his coffee and flipped through the white pages of his business contracts. Suddenly, he heard the sharp, frantic sound of high heels clicking rapidly down the main spiral staircase.
Victoria marched into the dining room, her face flushed red with anger and her eyes narrowed into thin, icy slits.
She held a empty leather jewelry box in her trembling hand, shaking it aggressively in front of Nathan's face before he could even stand up.
Victoria: My diamond bracelet is gone from my vanity table!
Nathan: Are you sure you did not just misplace it somewhere?
Victoria: I know exactly where I put my own expensive jewelry!
Nathan: Let us look around carefully before making quick accusations.
Victoria: There is no need to look around this house at all!
Victoria turned on her heel and strode angrily toward the kitchen, her expensive silk blouse rustling with every fast step she took.
Nathan set his coffee cup down on the wooden table and followed her, feeling a sudden knot of worry form in his stomach.
When Victoria slammed open the heavy white kitchen door, Hannah was standing near the sink, carefully drying a glass bowl with a clean towel.
Little Lily was sitting on the polished hardwood oak floor near the corner, holding a small plush teddy bear against her chest.
Victoria: Where did you hide my diamond bracelet, Hannah?
Hannah: I have not touched your jewelry box at all, ma'am!
Victoria: Do not lie to my face in my own home!
Hannah: I swear on my life I did not take anything!
Victoria: You are a poor maid who needs quick cash for your child!
Hannah stepped back against the white marble countertop, her face turning pale as she wrapped her arms protectively around herself.
Nathan stepped into the doorway, trying to keep his voice calm and steady so things would not escalate further in front of the small child.
Nathan: Victoria, stop shouting at her until we check the bedroom drawer again.
Victoria: You always defend the servants instead of trusting your own wife!
Victoria: I am going to search her small room right this second!
Victoria stormed past Hannah and pushed open the wooden door leading to the maid's quarters near the back of the spacious kitchen.
Hannah watched in utter terror as Victoria began throwing clothes out of the small wooden dresser, dumping books and toys onto the floor.
Little Lily began to cry softly, her tiny hands clutching her mother's apron as the loud noise echoed off the high white walls.
Nathan walked over to the kitchen island, feeling deep embarrassment over how his wife was treating a helpless employee in their house.
He was about to call his personal security team to help search the house properly when Victoria marched back out of the bedroom holding a small red velvet pouch.
Victoria: Look what I found hidden inside her top closet shelf!
Hannah: That pouch was given to me by my mother years ago!
Victoria: You are a thief, and you are leaving this house today!
Victoria unzipped the red pouch and tipped it over, expecting the shiny diamond bracelet to drop onto the white kitchen island.
Instead, a simple wooden key and a small, folded silver chain with a heart-shaped locket fell out onto the cold stone surface.
Victoria stared at the locket for a second, her anger flaring even higher because she had not proven her point in front of Nathan.
Rather than apologizing, Victoria turned her rage directly toward the small child who was sobbing loudly on the floor.
Victoria: Get your filthy trash out of my house right now!
Hannah: Please, give me an hour to pack our personal things!
Victoria: I said get out of my sight this very second!
Victoria grabbed a heavy wooden field hockey stick that was leaning against the corner umbrella stand near the back garden door.
She raised the heavy stick high above her head, her face contorted in pure rage as she stepped toward the terrified young mother.