David: You dare to humiliate my pregnant wife in front of my entire board of directors?
Chloe: David, look at the front of my dress! She intentionally spilled red wine across my silk skirt!
Cora: I didn't, David! She grabbed my wrist and pulled me into her path!
Chloe: She's lying! She has been jealous of me since the moment I walked into this party!
David: Shut your mouth, Chloe!
Chloe: You can't speak to me like that! My father owns thirty percent of the voting shares in Sterling Global!
David: I don't care if your father owns the entire state! You're finished in this house!
David's body tensed, his shoulders tight with dark, vengeful rage as he looked down at my pale, trembling face.
Cora: David... please, my stomach hurts...
David: Hold on, sweetie. I've got you.
Chloe let out a haughty, snarky laugh, crossing her arms over her maroon gown as she gestured toward the poolside patio behind her.
Chloe: Oh, don't play the weak victim now, Cora! You knew exactly what you were doing when you trapped David into marrying you!
David: That is my wife and the mother of my child you are talking about!
Chloe: She's a former waitress who stole my place at the head of this family!
David: You lost your place in this family three years ago when you stole from my father's trust fund!
Chloe's face stiffened for a fraction of a second before her arrogant smile returned.
Chloe: You can't prove that old rumor, David. But everyone in this room just saw your little wife ruin a fifty-thousand-dollar dress!
David: I don't give a damn about your dress, Chloe.
Overcome with pure, uncontrollable rage at her cruelty toward his pregnant wife, David swung his arm forward with lightning speed.
The heavy, sharp crack of a physical impact echoed through the high-ceilinged foyer like a gunshot. Chloe's head snapped sideways, a high-pitched female gasp escaping her throat as the force of the slap sent her spinning around.
She stumbled backward across the slick marble floor, her high heels catching on the pool deck threshold as she fell backward toward the blue illuminated pool.
A collective gasp rippled through the frozen crowd of formal guests standing along the luxury pillars.
Chloe: Ah! My face!
She splashed hard into the shallow end of the pool, her maroon dress soaking up the water as she thrashed around, gasping for air.
David didn't even turn to watch her splash. He stood dominant in the center of the frame, his eyes locked entirely on me as I lay weeping on the marble floor.
David: Cora... look at me, baby.