Julian: Cora! No!
Julian sprinted across the polished marble floor, shoving past shocked guests as the sound of Cora's body hitting the stone steps echoed through the grand foyer. Cora tumbled all the way to the bottom landing, her blue dress tearing against the sharp stone edges. She landed heavily on her side, clutching her abdomen with trembling, blood-stained hands.
Julian: Cora! Cora, stay with me! Look at me, baby!
Cora: Julian... it hurts so bad! The baby... he's hurt, please!
Julian: Somebody call an ambulance right now! Get the estate paramedics!
Julian dropped to his knees on the cold stone, tears streaming down his face as he gently cradled Cora's head. Cora sobbed hysterically, her fingers digging into Julian's grey suit jacket as she gasped for air. Across the room, guests gasped in horror, stepping back from the blood pooling near the bottom step.
Cora: Please save our baby, Julian! Don't let him die!
Julian: He's going to be okay, Cora. I swear to you, he's going to be okay.
Julian looked up toward the top of the grand staircase. Victoria stood on the marble landing, her hands resting casually on the iron railing, her lips curved into a subtle, cold smile. Julian felt a wave of icy rage surge through his veins. He gently laid Cora's head on his folded suit jacket and stood up abruptly.
Julian: Stay right there, Cora. I'll be back in two seconds.
Julian charged up the stone stairs three steps at a time, his boots thundering against the marble. Victoria didn't flinch as he approached, keeping her chin held high in arrogant defiance.
Victoria: She tripped on her dress, Julian. You know how clumsy she is in those cheap heels.
Before Victoria could finish her sentence, Julian raised his palm and forcefully slapped her straight across the face. The heavy crack of the impact echoed off the marble walls like a gunshot. Victoria's head snapped sideways, her blonde hair flying loose as she stumbled back against the velvet drapery.
Victoria: Ah!
Victoria clutched her burning cheek in total shock, her eyes wide with utter disbelief as she stared at Julian.
Victoria: You... you hit me?! In front of the entire board of directors?!
Julian: You just signed your own death warrant, Victoria.
Julian's face was filled with dark, vengeful rage as he pointed a trembling finger directly at her face. Victoria's subtle smirk instantly vanished, replaced by a sudden look of pure, suffocating panic as she realized what she had done.
Victoria: Julian, wait! It was an accident! I was just trying to talk to her!
Julian: If anything happens to my wife or my child, I will use every dollar of the Sterling estate to put you behind bars for the rest of your life.
Victoria: You can't prove I pushed her! Nobody saw anything!
Julian: We'll see about that when the police review the security tapes.
Julian turned his back on her and ran back down the stairs just as two estate paramedics rushed through the front entrance with a gurney. They carefully lifted Cora onto the stretcher, applying pressure bandages to her side while oxygen was placed over her face.
Paramedic: We have severe abdominal trauma and internal bleeding, Mr. Sterling! We need to get her to St. Jude's Trauma Center immediately!
Julian: I'm coming with you! Drive as fast as you can!
Julian climbed into the back of the emergency vehicle, holding Cora's cold, trembling hand as the doors slammed shut and the sirens began to wail into the night.