The heavy front doors swung open as Mark returned from work.
Mark was a hardworking businessman who loved his daughter above all else.
He stopped in his tracks near the American flag display in the hall.
His eyes widened when he saw the broken porcelain on the floor.
Mark: What on earth happened here?
Brenda looked up with fake tears streaming down her painted cheeks.
Brenda: Oh, Mark! It was awful!
Mark: Brenda, are you hurt?
Brenda: Clara lost her temper when I asked her to clean the kitchen!
Clara: That is not true!
Brenda: She threw your mother's favorite vase right at my head!
Brenda pointed a shaking finger toward the terrified housemaid.
Brenda: She tried to hurt Lily too!
Mark: Clara, is this what happened?
Clara: Mr. Vance, I would never do such a thing!
Brenda: She is lying, Mark!
Brenda: Fire her immediately before she ruins our family business!
Mark stepped closer to his sobbing wife on the floor.
He felt a heavy weight pressing down on his chest.
He had trusted Clara for over five years.
Mark: Clara, I need the truth right now.
Clara: I was comforting Lily after Mrs. Vance took her bear.
Brenda: Listen to her making up stories to save her job!
Lily wiped her nose and reached for her father's pant leg.
Lily: Daddy, please listen to Clara.
Mark: Lily, stay out of this right now.
Lily: But Teddy saw everything!