Julian: Clara! Look at me! Are you hurt?!
Clara: The baby... Julian, I was falling... she pushed me!
Julian: I've got you, sweetie. You're on the ground, you're safe now.
Julian gently shifted Clara's weight on the marble floor, keeping his arms locked around her shoulders while his hand rested protectively over her polka dot dress[cite: 1]. The house staff stood frozen along the archways, their faces pale as they looked between Julian on the floor and Victoria standing above[cite: 1].
Victoria: Julian! Don't listen to her outrageous lies! She tripped on her own dress!
Julian: Shut your mouth, Mother! I saw you extend your hands!
Victoria: I was reaching out to catch her! She was leaning too far over the railing!
Clara: She shoved me, Julian! She told me my baby would never touch the trust fund!
Julian turned his head toward the chief estate butler, Thomas, who was standing near the main entrance with a cordless phone in his hand[cite: 1].
Julian: Thomas, did you dial nine-one-one like I ordered?!
Thomas: The paramedics and the police are on their way, Mr. Julian! They will be here in five minutes!
Victoria: Thomas, hang up that phone this instant! You take orders from me in this house!
Julian: Thomas works for the Sterling Trust, Mother, and I run the corporate board!
Victoria smoothed down her grey suit jacket, her heels clicking sharply against the upper balcony floor as she turned toward the grand staircase to walk down[cite: 1]. She kept her chin held high, trying to maintain her cold, regal posture despite the gasping housemaids staring at her[cite: 1].
Victoria: This is an absolute farce! A cheap street girl comes into our mansion, pretends to fall, and tries to frame the matriarch of this family!
Julian: You pushed a pregnant woman over a three-story drop, Victoria!
Victoria: Watch your tone when you speak to your mother, Julian! I built this estate!
Julian: My father built this estate, and he left fifty-one percent of the voting shares to my children!
Clara sobbed quietly, burying her face into Julian's white dress shirt as his broad arms pulled her tighter against his chest[cite: 1].
Clara: She wanted to get rid of the baby, Julian... She knew about the trust fund clause.
Julian: Nobody is touching you or our child ever again, Clara. I promise you that on my life.
Victoria reached the bottom of the grand staircase, stepping onto the polished marble floor near the American flag[cite: 1]. She looked down at Julian and Clara with pure disdain, her manicured hands resting on her hips[cite: 1].
Victoria: Get up off that dirty floor, Julian. You look ridiculous cradling a former waitress in front of the servants.
Julian: She is my wife, Victoria, and the mother of the future CEO of Sterling Global.
Victoria: She is not your legal wife! The prenuptial paperwork was never finalized by my lawyers!
Julian: The prenuptial paperwork was signed in front of a state notary three weeks ago, Mother. Clara owns half of everything I possess.
Victoria's face stiffened for a fraction of a second, her cold expression flickering as the first seed of panic planted itself in her chest[cite: 1].