The heavy oak doors slammed against the wall with a deafening bang as Ethan marched into the room[cite: 1]. His tailored burgundy velvet suit coat caught the sunlight, his black bowtie straight, his expression cold as ice[cite: 1].
Victoria's smug expression vanished in a split second, replaced by trembling panic as she spun around on her heels[cite: 1].
Victoria: Ethan! It was an accident![cite: 1]
Clara: Sir! She tried to throw your baby onto the marble floor![cite: 1]
Victoria: She's lying, Ethan! The maid lunged at me from behind and knocked Toby out of my hands!
Clara: She raised him over her head and threw him with all her strength, Mr. Sterling![cite: 1] Look at him!
Toby shrieked in Clara's arms, his tiny red face wet with tears as his chest heaved in frantic, breathless sobs[cite: 1].
Ethan didn't say a word as he took four heavy strides across the white tiles[cite: 1]. His jaw was clenched tight, a muscle jumping beneath his cheek[cite: 1].
Victoria: Ethan, darling, listen to me! I would never harm our future heir! We are signing our marriage papers this Friday!
Ethan: Get out of my sight![cite: 1]
Ethan's right hand flew forward with blinding speed, delivering a sharp, explosive slap across Victoria's face[cite: 1]. Before she could recover, his left hand swung back, cracking across her other cheek in rapid succession[cite: 1].
The violent impacts echoed off the high ceiling like gunshots, sending Victoria tumbling backward onto the hard marble floor[cite: 1].
Victoria: Ah! Ethan, you struck me! You hit your own fiancee in front of the servants![cite: 1]
Ethan: You are lucky I don't throw you through that window, Victoria!
Ethan dropped swiftly to his knees beside Clara, his hands shaking as he reached around her and his crying infant[cite: 1].
He pulled both of them into a tight, emotional embrace beneath the grand American flag, burying his face in Toby's blanket[cite: 1].
Ethan: You'll spend the rest of your life in prison![cite: 1]
Clara: Mr. Sterling... he's breathing, but he was terrified... I slid as fast as I could...
Ethan: Thank you for saving my son. You are both safe now. I am right here.[cite: 1]
Toby's frantic crying began to soften into tiny, trembling whimpers against his father's velvet coat[cite: 1].
Behind them, Victoria pushed herself up on her elbows, clutching her bright red, swelling cheeks with manicured fingers[cite: 1].
Victoria: You cannot arrest me, Ethan! You signed our prenuptial agreement! I am entitled to fifty million dollars from your estate trust!
Ethan: Chief Miller, secure this room right now!
Chief Miller stepped forward with two armed guards, blocking the main doors with cold authority[cite: 1].
Chief Miller: Nobody leaves the ballroom, sir.
Victoria: Ethan, be reasonable! My father is the largest private shareholder in Sterling Global! If you cross me, he will pull every dollar out of your logistics division!
Ethan: Your father doesn't own a single share in Sterling Global anymore, Victoria.
Victoria froze on the floor, her eyes widening in pure disbelief as she stared at the man kneeling beside the maid[cite: 1].
Victoria: What... what are you talking about?
Ethan: The federal audit concluded twenty minutes ago, Victoria. Your father was taken into custody at Dallas Fort Worth Airport.
Victoria: That's a lie! My father is in Manhattan closing an offshore acquisition!
Clara: He was trying to board a private jet to Zurich, Victoria. With four million dollars in stolen bearer bonds.
Victoria's breath caught in her throat as she scrambled backward against the legs of the grand piano, her pink gown tearing against the polished wood[cite: 1].
Victoria: How do you know about Zurich?! Who gave you access to our financial files?!
Ethan: Clara didn't need to access your files, Victoria. My late wife Sarah did that before she died.