Richard paused and looked at Elena with a look of genuine surprise on his face.
Victoria's bright smile vanished instantly, replaced by a dark look of panic.
Victoria: Elena, what are you doing?
Victoria: Go back to the kitchen and finish preparing our evening meal right now.
Elena: No, Victoria, I will not go back to the kitchen.
Richard: What is going on here?
Richard: Elena has worked for us for two years and has never acted like this.
Elena reached into her apron pocket and pulled out the small silver flash drive.
Elena: Mr. Vance, your wife has been hurting your son while you were away.
Richard blinked in total shock, staring down at the housekeeper in complete disbelief.
Richard: What are you talking about?
Richard: That is a very serious accusation to make against my wife.
Victoria: She is lying, Richard!
Victoria: She is just bitter because I scolded her for dropping expensive glassware earlier!
Victoria: She is trying to ruin our marriage out of pure spite!
Elena held up the flash drive high so that both of them could see it clearly.
Elena: The truth is saved right here on this security footage from this morning.
Elena: Look at your son's arms before you believe another word she says.
Richard set his heavy leather briefcase down on the marble floor with a quiet thud.
He turned and jogged quickly up the grand staircase toward his son's bedroom.
Victoria turned on Elena, her face twisted in pure rage and desperation.
Victoria: You will regret this for the rest of your life, you pathetic maid!
Elena: I only care about protecting that poor boy from your cruel behavior.
A minute later, heavy footsteps echoed down the staircase as Richard returned.
He was holding little Leo's small hand as they walked down the stairs together.
Leo's sleeves were rolled up, exposing the clear red marks to the bright afternoon light.
Richard's face was completely pale, his jaw clenched tight in overwhelming anger.
Richard: Victoria, look at our son's arms right now and explain this to me.
Victoria stepped back against the front door, her voice trembling with rising fear.
Victoria: He... he fell in the garden yesterday while playing rough!
Leo: That's not true, Dad!
Leo: She grabbed me because I spilled my drink!