The crowd of mall shoppers expanded, forming a tight circle around the group under the waving American flag.
Veronica adjusted the strap of her high-end leather handbag, trying to maintain her proud posture despite her trembling knees.
Veronica: Daniel is a respectable businessman! He inherited the Vance family estate fair and square!
Carter: He inherited nothing! My father’s will explicitly left eighty percent of the family business and real estate to me and my children!
Lily: Uncle Daniel said my dad was dead! He forced me to sign papers when I was twelve!
Carter: What kind of papers, Lily?
Lily: Guardianship papers... he made himself my legal guardian so he could collect Mom's life insurance payouts every month!
Veronica: She’s lying! She’s just a bitter kid trying to ruin Daniel's reputation before our wedding next week!
Carter: Look at her leg, Veronica! Look at the brace on her ankle and the crutches you knocked across the floor!
Veronica: She probably fell down some steps! It’s not my fault she’s clumsy!
Carter: You kicked her crutch while she was carrying a baby! I watched you do it with my own eyes!
Carter turned to the mall security guards who were finally jogging over toward the crowd.
Security Officer: Is there a problem here, sir?
Carter: Yes, officer! This woman just committed assault against a minor with a disability!
Veronica: I did no such thing! Tell them who I am, officer! My fiancé pays your salary!
Security Officer: Ma'am, we have high-definition dome cameras right above that flag angle. We can review the footage in ten seconds.
Veronica’s face went pale, her smug expression melting away as she glanced up at the ceiling camera.
Veronica: It... it was an accident! She stepped into my walking path!
Carter: You told her to watch where she was dragging herself! Everyone in this hallway heard you!
Lily: Dad, please... my leg hurts so bad, and Leo needs his fever medicine.
Carter dropped back down to one knee, gently picking up the baby carrier and placing it safely over his broad shoulder.
Carter: I've got him, Lily. I've got you both now. Nobody is ever going to hurt you again.
Lily: I thought you were dead for six years, Dad... I missed you so much.
Carter: I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry I wasn't there. But Daniel is going to pay for every single day he stole from us.
Veronica: You can’t touch Daniel! He has the best defense attorneys in the state!
Carter: Tell your attorney to get ready, Veronica. Because I’m filing criminal charges and a fraud lawsuit before the sun sets today.