Victor: Ethan... come here, buddy.
Ethan: Daddy!
The small boy broke away from Clara's gentle grasp and threw his arms around his father's neck, crying tears of relief into the fabric of Victor's brown trench coat.
Victor: Shh, it's okay, son. I've got you. Nobody is ever going to hurt you in this house again.
Ethan: Is Miss Serena going away, Daddy?
Victor: Yes, Ethan. She is leaving right now, and she is never coming back.
Victor lifted his son into his arms, holding him tightly against his chest before turning his eyes down toward Clara, who was still kneeling on the marble floor, her uniform dusty and her hands trembling from adrenaline.
Victor: Clara... stand up, please.
Clara: Yes, Mr. Sterling.
Victor: I don't even know what to say to you. I walked into this foyer prepared to listen to Serena's lies, and you stood your ground against a woman who could have ruined your entire livelihood.
Clara: I could never stand by and watch a child suffer, sir. Ethan means everything to this household.
Victor: You saved my son today, Clara. You protected his life, and you protected his mother's memory.
Clara: I was just doing my job, Mr. Sterling.
Victor: No. Doing your job is cleaning the rooms and managing the linen. What you did today was act as a guardian for my child when his own father wasn't here to protect him.
From the front entrance, the heavy double doors opened once again, and two uniformed police officers stepped into the grand foyer, their boots clicking against the marble.
Officer Davis: Mr. Sterling? We received a silent alarm trigger from your home security app flagged as child endangerment in progress.
Victor: Thank you for arriving so quickly, Officer. The suspect is right there on the floor.
Serena: Officers, stop! This is a private domestic matter! My father is Arthur Kensington, the chief shareholder of Kensington Financial!
Officer Davis: I don't care if your father is the governor, ma'am. Mr. Sterling, do you have evidence of physical abuse?
Victor: I have 4K ceiling video showing her dragging my six-year-old son across the floor, along with physical blood evidence on the marble tiles right next to you.
Serena: Victor, please! Don't do this to me! I'll go to therapy! I'll get help!
Officer Miller: Stand up, ma'am. Hands behind your back.
Officer Miller stepped forward, grabbing Serena by her arms and pulling her up from the floor. The metallic click of handcuffs echoed loudly through the high-ceilinged mansion foyer.
Serena: Get your hands off me, you brute! Victor, tell them to stop! You're making the biggest mistake of your life!
Victor: The only mistake I made was letting a monster like you into my son's life. Take her away, Officers.
Serena: You'll regret this! My lawyers will sue you for defamation! Clara, you miserable little maid, I'll make sure you pay for this!
Officer Davis: That's enough out of you, lady. Move it.
The officers escorted the screaming, struggling woman out through the front entrance, her glittering gold dress trailing behind her as the heavy doors slammed shut, restoring a sudden, beautiful quiet to the mansion.
Victor looked down at his son, whose breathing had finally slowed, then turned back to face Clara.
Victor: Clara, starting today, your position as housemaid is officially over.
Clara: Sir...? Are you... are you sending me away too?
Victor: Absolutely not. I am appointing you as Ethan's full-time primary nanny and head estate manager, with a salary four times what you make now, along with full health benefits and private quarters in the main house.
Clara: Mr. Sterling... I... I don't know what to say! That's far too much!
Victor: It's not enough for the woman who saved my family. You belong here, Clara. As long as this flag hangs in this foyer, you will always have a home with us.