Victoria: She let the boy play that loud noise, and when I asked her to stop, she attacked me!
Ethan didn't respond. His eyes were locked on his crying son kneeling in the middle of the room.
Victoria: She even threw the boy onto the floor to make it look like my fault!
Ethan walked slowly past Victoria, his cold aura filling the entire ballroom with heavy silence.
He dropped to one knee beside Clara, gently taking Leo into his arms and pulling him close.
Ethan: Leo... buddy, look at me. Are you okay?
Leo: Daddy... my elbow hurts... she pushed me...
Ethan looked at the fresh scrape on his son's arm, his jaw tightening so hard his veins showed on his neck.
Ethan: Clara, did she lay a hand on my son?
Clara: Yes, Mr. Vance. She shoved him off the bench because he wouldn't stop playing the piano.
Victoria: She is lying! Ethan, you know how deceitful hired help can be!
Ethan stood up slowly, keeping Leo safely cradled against his chest as he turned to face Victoria.
Ethan: My home has twenty-four-hour high-definition security cameras in every single room, Victoria.
Victoria's face turned completely white, her arrogant smile vanishing instantly.
Victoria: Security cameras... in the ballroom?
Ethan: The feed streams directly to my tablet in my office. I watched you shove my son with my own eyes.
Victoria: Ethan... I... I was just stressed! The gala is tonight, and I wanted everything to be perfect for us!
Ethan: You put your hands on a motherless six-year-old child.
Victoria: He was being disobedient! A child needs discipline if he is going to bear the Vance name!
Ethan: He will never bear your presence again. Take off the ring.
Victoria: What?! You can't be serious! Our families signed a merger agreement last month!
Ethan: The merger is dead. Our engagement is over. Take off the ring right now.
Victoria dropped to her knees in furious desperation, reaching out to touch Ethan's arm, but he stepped back.
Victoria: Ethan, I am your fiancée! Look at me! You can't throw away a multi-billion-dollar alliance over a nanny and a brat!
Ethan: Call security. Have Miss Sterling escorted off my property immediately.
Head of Security: Yes, Mr. Vance. Right away.
Two massive guards stepped forward, grabbing Victoria by her shoulders as she began to kick and scream.
Victoria: Let go of me! Do you know who my father is?! He will ruin Vance Enterprises for this!
Ethan: Tell your father that his loan guarantees are revoked as of this morning.
Victoria: You monster! You can't do this to me! I loved you!
Ethan: You loved my trust funds and my estate. Get her out of my sight.
The guards dragged the screaming blonde socialite through the grand double doors, leaving her white gown torn against the floor.
Ethan turned back to Clara, who was dusting off Leo's velvet pants with trembling hands.
Ethan: Clara... thank you for protecting my son when I wasn't in the room.
Clara: I will always protect him, Mr. Vance. He means the world to me.
Leo: Daddy... is the mean lady coming back?
Ethan: Never again, Leo. I promise you, she will never step foot near you ever again.