Chloe's fake sobbing stopped instantly. Her mouth opened in shock as she looked between Daniel's terrified face and the wet woman standing near the marble archway.
Chloe: Mom? Daniel, what are you talking about? She's just a maid!
Daniel: Shut up, Chloe!
Daniel rushed past Chloe, dropping to his knees on the wet marble floor right in front of the wet woman. He took her cold, dripping hands into his own, his voice shaking with intense fear and guilt.
Daniel: Mom! Oh my God, Mom! Are you okay?! Why are you wet?
Margaret: I am fine, Daniel. Just a little cold.
Chloe: Daniel, get up off the floor! What is wrong with you?! Her name is Margaret, she's the new house cleaner!
Daniel: This is Margaret Sterling! She is my mother, you idiot!
Chloe: Your... your mother? But you told me your mother lived in Europe!
Margaret: I flew in from London two hours ago, Chloe. I wanted to see my son's estate before the wedding.
Chloe: But... but why were you holding a cleaning rag? Why are you dressed like that?!
Margaret: I dressed in simple clothes because I wanted to inspect my house without a team of assistants following me around.
Chloe stumbled backward, her high heels catching on the hem of her red gown. Her face turned completely white under her makeup.
Chloe: Your house...? But Daniel told me he owned this mansion!
Daniel: My mother owns everything, Chloe! She owns this mansion, she owns Sterling Global, and she owns ninety percent of the shares in my business!
Margaret: And more importantly, Chloe, I am the person who approves Daniel's trust fund allowances.
Chloe swallowed hard, her chest heaving as pure panic washed over her. She looked down at the empty metallic bucket lying on the marble tile, then at the bright red slap mark still visible on Margaret's cheek.
Chloe: Mrs. Sterling... I... I didn't know! I swear I didn't know it was you!
Margaret: If I were a real cleaner, Chloe, would that have made it acceptable to throw cold water on me?
Chloe: No! Of course not! It was an accident! The bucket slipped out of my hands!
Margaret: You looked me in the eye and called me a peasant. You told me I didn't belong in this neighborhood.
Daniel: You threw water on my mother and called her a peasant?!
Daniel stood up from the floor, his eyes burning with intense, furious rage as he turned toward Chloe.
Chloe: Daniel, darling, listen to me! She was standing in the way! I was stressed about the wedding preparations!
Daniel: Do not call me darling!
Daniel took two fast steps toward Chloe, his face contorted in anger as the full reality of her cruelty sank in.