Julian dropped instantly to his knees beside the crying girl, ignoring the expensive fabric of his grey suit pants as they touched the spilled red wine on the marble. His hands shook with raw emotion as he gently grabbed her face, turning her chin upward to check for physical injuries. The girl was sobbing hysterically, fresh red wine dripping down her face and hair, looking up at him with a mixture of terror and desperate hope.
Julian: Look at me, sweetheart. Did she hurt you? Did she touch you anywhere else?
Chloe: She hit my arm... and she said I wasn't allowed to eat dinner tonight...
Julian: You are never going to be treated like this again. I promise you, Chloe. Daddy is right here.
Victoria crossed her arms over her glittering gold sequin gown, forcing a cold, arrogant smirk onto her face to cover up the panic rising in her chest[cite: 1]. She looked down at Julian with absolute disgust, refusing to show an ounce of remorse for what she had done[cite: 1].
Victoria: Have you completely embarrassed yourself enough for one evening, Julian? Coddling a stray child you brought home from who knows where?
Julian: She is my flesh and blood, Victoria! She is my daughter, and your legal granddaughter!
Victoria: A bastard child from a forgotten affair! She has no rights to the Sterling estate, and she certainly has no place living under my roof!
Julian: Your roof? My biological father left this entire estate to my direct bloodline! You forged the documents to lock her away in the east wing just like you tried to do with me ten years ago!
Victoria: Prove it! You have zero legal evidence, Julian! The board of directors meets tomorrow morning to sign over full control of the trust fund to me, and you and this brat will be thrown out onto the streets!
Chloe: Daddy, she locked me in the dark room yesterday... she said I didn't deserve to see the sun...
Julian's blood ran cold[cite: 1]. He pulled Chloe tightly against his chest, shielding her from Victoria's hateful gaze as soft emotional crying sounds echoed off the high foyer walls. He looked up at Victoria with eyes full of a terrifying, calm resolve.
Julian: You think you've won, don't you, Victoria? You think because you control the lawyers and the board, you can sweep this abuse under the rug?
Victoria: I know I've won. Security, escort Mr. Sterling and his little pet out of my foyer immediately!
Two burly private security guards stepped out from the shadows of the hallway, looking hesitant as they stared down at their CEO's son. Julian slowly stood up to his full height, keeping Chloe safely behind his leg as he reached inside his suit jacket pocket.
Julian: Don't even think about touching us. Marcus, play the audio feed from the living room server.
Victoria: What server? What are you talking about?!
Julian: The private backup server I installed last week when I suspected you were abusing the staff and my daughter behind my back!
Victoria's face turned completely white, the sparkling gold sequins on her gown rattling as her entire body began to shake with sudden, overwhelming dread[cite: 1].