The vast estate seemed to grow colder as Marcus stared down his wife. Victoria smoothed her silk dress, but her eyes darted toward the grand entrance, realizing that her control over the situation was slipping away minute by minute.
Victoria: What do you mean they weren't filed?! I gave them to your divorce lawyer on Monday!
Marcus: I instructed my lawyer to hold them until I checked the estate security cameras.
Victoria: Security cameras?! You put cameras in the private hallway?!
Marcus: I put cameras in every single room of this mansion three days ago.
Elena: Thank God... so you saw everything?
Marcus: I watched the live video feed on my phone while I was driving up the private driveway.
Victoria quickly adjusted her tone, taking a soft step toward Marcus and reaching out to touch his upper arm with a tender, practiced warmth.
Victoria: Marcus, baby... you know how stressed I've been with the charity gala... I just lost my temper for a second!
Marcus: You swung an eight-month-old infant by his arms like he was garbage.
Victoria: It was just a joke! We were playing a game!
Elena: A game doesn't leave red marks on an infant's skin, Mrs. Vance!
Victoria: Shut your mouth, Elena! Nobody asked for your opinion!
Marcus: Don't you yell at her again, Victoria.
Victoria: She is a maid, Marcus! You are letting a paid employee talk down to your wife!
Marcus: She is the person who protected my child while you tried to endanger his life!
Victoria: I am the lady of this estate! You owe me respect!
Marcus: You lose all respect the moment you harm my blood.
Marcus stepped directly into Victoria's personal space, his towering frame casting a long shadow over her body as she backed up until her shoulders pressed against the white wall frame. He leaned down, his voice dropping into a harsh whisper that carried across the high ceilings.
Victoria: Marcus, please... let's go into the study and talk about this privately like adults.
Marcus: There is nothing left to talk about in private.
Victoria: Think about our public image! The Vance family name will be ruined if news of this gets out to the press!
Marcus: You didn't care about my family name when you tried to alter the trust fund clause yesterday.
Victoria gasped softly, her lips parting in surprise. The sudden change in her expression showed that she knew her hidden financial games had finally caught up to her, but Marcus was not finished exposing the full truth behind her actions.