Victoria: Police?! You actually called the state police to my private residence?!
Julian: I called the major crimes division, Mother. Detective Vance is leading the team personally.
Victoria: Detective Vance is a personal friend of our family! He will laugh this ridiculous claim out of the room!
Julian: Detective Vance is an officer of the law, Victoria, and he just watched the raw camera feed from the upper balcony camera[cite: 1].
Victoria froze in place, her eyes darting toward the cream-colored ceiling where a small dome security camera was mounted near the American flag[cite: 1].
Victoria: That... that camera was turned off for maintenance this morning! The estate technician assured me!
Julian: The estate technician works for me, Mother. I paid him ten thousand dollars to leave the secondary vault feed active twenty-four hours a day.
Victoria: You set a trap for me in my own house?!
Julian: You set the trap for yourself the moment you put your hands on my pregnant wife[cite: 1].
The heavy front double doors of the mansion pushed open with a sharp clatter. Four uniformed police officers marched onto the white marble floor, led by Detective Vance in a dark grey trench coat[cite: 1]. Paramedics carrying a folding stretcher and medical kits rushed in right behind them[cite: 1].
Detective Vance: Julian! Is your wife alright?!
Julian: I caught her as she fell from the upper railing, Detective[cite: 1]. The paramedics need to examine her and the baby immediately[cite: 1].
Paramedic: Ma'am, lie completely flat on the stretcher. We are going to monitor your baby's heart rate right now.
Clara lay back on the soft padding of the stretcher, keeping her eyes fixed on Julian as the paramedic placed a portable fetal heart monitor over her bump[cite: 1]. A soft, fast, rhythmic beating sound echoed through the high-ceilinged atrium—a strong, steady baby heartbeat[cite: 1].
Clara: He's beating, Julian... our baby is alive!
Julian: Thank God... Thank God!
Julian buried his face in Clara's hand, tears of pure relief welling in his eyes as he kissed her fingers[cite: 1].
Detective Vance turned around to face Victoria, pulling a leather folder from his trench coat pocket[cite: 1].
Detective Vance: Victoria Sterling, step away from the staircase and place your hands behind your back.
Victoria: Vance, have you lost your mind?! I am the primary trustee of Sterling Global! You can't touch me in my own foyer!
Detective Vance: I just reviewed the high-definition footage from the secondary vault server, Victoria. The video clearly shows you approaching Clara Sterling from behind and forcefully shoving her over the balcony railing[cite: 1].