Victoria quickly cleared her throat and wiped her clean face with silk.
Victoria: Those cameras were turned off for routine maintenance this morning, Mark.
Clara: The security company finished that work yesterday afternoon at three.
Mark looked up toward the small black glass lens near ceiling beam.
A tiny green light was blinking steadily on the side panel camera.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his heavy leather phone.
Victoria's hands began to shake as she watched him tap the screen.
Victoria: We do not need to look at videos while Lily is crying!
Victoria: You should take her to her bedroom and rest right now!
Mark ignored Victoria's fast words and unlocked the live camera footage.
He scrubbed the video timeline back ten minutes to the exact moment.
The video clearly showed Victoria walking up behind the playing toddler quietly.
It showed Victoria nudging the red toy car over the wooden drop.
It showed Victoria stepping back with her hands behind her back cold.
It showed Clara running up the stairs like a hero to save Lily.
Mark's face turned pale white as he watched the horrifying clear video.
He looked up from his phone screen straight into Victoria's wide eyes.
The air in the grand hallway became completely frozen and heavy now.
Mark: You stood there and watched my little girl fall forward.
Victoria backed away three feet toward the wall with shaking shoulders.
Victoria: It was an accident, Mark, the video looks wrong!
Mark: Do not dare take another step toward my child ever again!
He handed Lily over to Clara with deep gentle care and warmth.
Mark: Take her to the nursery and lock the inner door tightly.
Clara nodded her head fast and held Lily close against her shoulder.
Clara: Yes sir, I will protect her with my entire life.
Victoria began to panic as Mark took three hard steps forward toward her.
His voice was trembling with pure rage and painful deep betrayal now.
Mark: You wanted her inheritance money for your own private debts!
Victoria: That is not true, I love you and this family!
Mark: You are a monster who put a child in danger today!
Victoria lost her footing on the top step and stumbled down slightly.
She dropped onto the cold marble floor near the middle landing area.
Her bright mustard dress spread out around her like a broken flower.
She looked up at Mark with real fear in her eyes now.
Victoria: Please listen to me before you make a huge mistake!
Mark: The only mistake I made was letting you inside my house!