Chloe: You already called them?! Before you even came upstairs?!
Richard: I received an automated security alert on my smartwatch the second Sarah pressed the emergency silent panic button under the nursery desk.
Sarah: Mr. Sterling installed panic buttons under every desk in the house three years ago, Miss Vance. You should have checked the furniture before trying to threaten a baby.
Chloe: You planned this... both of you were working together to trap me!
Richard: Sarah was protecting my son while I was gathering the legal evidence to put you away for good.
The heavy front doors downstairs swung open, and the sound of multiple footsteps marched rapidly across the marble foyer.
Officer Martinez: Police! Mr. Sterling, where are you?!
Richard: In the study, Officer Martinez! We are all inside!
Three uniformed police officers entered the study, their hands resting on their utility belts as they took in the scene. Chief Reynolds stepped forward, holding a tablet displaying the live video feed transmitted from the nursery camera.
Chief Reynolds: Mr. Sterling, we received the cloud recording showing the suspect holding an open flame near the infant's face.
Richard: The suspect is right there in the gold dress, Chief.
Chloe: Chief Reynolds, you know my father! We play tennis together at the estate club every weekend!
Chief Reynolds: Miss Vance, I’ve already reviewed the footage on the precinct monitor. Your father's social standing has nothing to do with child endangerment and attempted extortion.
Chloe: It was a harmless joke! I was just holding the lighter to show the maid how fast fuel burns!
Chief Reynolds: You were threatening a three-month-old child while demanding financial documents, ma'am. That is attempted extortion and felony child abuse.
Officer Martinez: Hands behind your back, ma'am. Do not make this any more difficult than it already is.
Chloe: GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MY SATIN DRESS COSTS?!
Officer Martinez turned Chloe around roughly, pulling her hands behind her back as the cold steel handcuffs clicked tightly around her wrists.
Chloe: RICHARD, TELL THEM TO UNHOOK ME! I AM YOUR FIANCÉE!
Richard: As of five minutes ago, our engagement is officially terminated. And my legal team will be filing a full restraining order before the sun goes down.
Chloe: YOU WILL REGRET THIS! MY LAWYERS WILL SUE YOU FOR DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER!
Sarah: Defamation requires false statements, Miss Vance. Everything on that tablet is absolute truth.
Chief Reynolds: Escort her to the patrol car outside, officers.
The two officers dragged the screaming, kicking woman out of the study, her gold heels scraping uselessly against the polished floorboards as her frantic shouts echoed down the long hallway.
Chief Reynolds: Mr. Sterling, we’ll need you and Miss Sarah to come down to the precinct later today to sign the formal written statements.
Richard: We’ll be there in an hour, Chief. Thank you for your fast response.
Chief Reynolds: Just doing our duty, sir. Give that little boy a hug for us.
Chief Reynolds nodded politely and walked out of the study, leaving Richard, Sarah, and baby Leo in the quiet, peaceful office.