The heavy mahogany doors of the Vance estate flew open as Ethan rushed into the grand foyer, dropping his leather briefcase onto the polished marble tiles.
High-pitched screams echoed from the base of the winding staircase, cutting straight through his chest like broken glass.
Victoria: The nanny dropped the baby! It wasn't me!
Victoria stood on the lower steps in a spotless designer dress, her hand pressed against her throat as she pointed a shaking finger downward.
On the hardwood floor near the foot of the stairs, seven-month-old Maya lay crying hysterically, her small legs kicking against her pink blanket.
Ethan: Maya! God, Maya!
Ethan dropped to his knees, his hands trembling violently as he scooped the sobbing infant into his arms and checked her tiny arms and forehead.
Ethan: Hey, it's okay. Daddy's here now. You're safe, sweet girl. Daddy's got you.
Hannah sat curled up on the bottom step, her nanny uniform wrinkled and her face drenched in tears.
Hannah: Your wife threw her, Mr. Vance! She threw your baby right off the landing!
Victoria: Shut your lying mouth! You're fired! Get out of this house right now before I call the sheriff!
Victoria stepped down, towering over the sobbing young girl with venom in her eyes.
Hannah: I tried to catch her! I swear on my life, sir, I reached out as fast as I could!
Victoria: Ethan, don't listen to this pathetic little maid! She was careless, she tripped on the stairs, and now she is trying to frame me to save her job!
Ethan stood up slowly, clutching Maya tightly against his chest as the baby’s frantic whimpers began to quiet against his wool jacket.
Ethan: No one leaves this foyer. Not a single person walks out those front doors until I know what happened to my daughter.
Hannah wiped her cheeks with her trembling hands, looking up at Ethan with raw terror.
Hannah: Sir, check the cameras. Please, just check the cameras in the hallway!
Victoria let out a cold, sharp laugh, crossing her arms over her chest with effortless confidence.
Victoria: No, Ethan, don't bother. The cameras have been broken for ages. The maintenance contractor told us that two months ago.
She took a step closer, glaring down at the infant cradled in Ethan's arms with absolute disgust.
Victoria: You ruined everything the very day you were born.
The icy words hung in the air of the vast entryway like poison, freezing Ethan where he stood.
Ethan: What did you just say to my daughter?
Victoria's eyes flickered, realizing the slip, but her chin remained high and defiant.
Victoria: I said she has caused nothing but chaos in our marriage, Ethan! And now her clumsy nanny almost broke her neck!
Ethan looked down at Hannah, whose uniform was covered in dust from diving across the floor, then turned his gaze toward Victoria's spotless silk dress.
Ethan: Do you have anything left to say for yourself, Victoria?
Victoria: Ethan, stop! I'm sorry if I sounded harsh, but you have to believe your own wife over a stranger!
Ethan reached into his suit jacket, his jaw tightening into steel as his thumb grazed the screen of his phone.
Ethan: How many times did you hurt her while I was at the office?
Victoria stepped backward, her composed mask beginning to crack as Ethan pulled up an encrypted security folder that she never knew existed.