Richard walked into the mansion foyer, flanked by two uniformed security guards.
He had forgotten an important legal file and returned earlier than anyone expected.
The sudden sight of his crying son and the heated argument stopped him cold.
Richard: What on earth is going on here?!
Victoria: Oh, Richard, thank goodness you are home!
Victoria instantly changed her tone into a frantic, innocent sob of fear.
She rushed down the remaining steps, clutching her chest with trembling hands.
Victoria: The maid was completely careless and dropped poor Leo!
Leo: That is a lie! Daddy, she pushed me!
Leo ran past Elena and threw his arms around his father's legs.
Richard knelt down immediately and wrapped his strong arms around his shaking son.
Richard: Are you hurt, Leo? Look at me, buddy.
Leo: My knee hurts, but Elena caught me before I hit the wall.
Leo: Victoria told me to get out of her way and pushed me down!
Richard's eyes hardened as he looked up at his new wife.
Victoria put her hands over her face, pretending to cry tears of sorrow.
Victoria: He is confused, Richard, he slipped on his toy!
Victoria: The maid is turning him against me because she hates me!
Elena stepped forward bravely, refusing to back down from the false accusation.
Elena: I saw everything with my own eyes, Mr. Sterling.
Elena: Mrs. Sterling shoved him because he was playing in the hallway.
Victoria: You are fired! Get out of my house this instant!
Richard: Nobody is leaving until I find out the absolute truth!
Richard stood up slowly, his tall frame trembling with rising anger.
He looked between his weeping son, the defensive maid, and his nervous wife.
Elena: Check the staircase cameras, sir!
Victoria: The security cameras are not working today!
Elena: That is untrue, the red light is blinking right now!
Elena pointed her finger directly toward the high corner of the grand ceiling.