Before Victoria could react, Clara swung her hand forward with sharp, decisive movement.
A loud impact rang out across the grand foyer as Clara delivered a hard slap.
Victoria gasped in sheer disbelief, holding her reddened cheek in complete shock.
"How dare you strike me!" Victoria shrieked while raising her arm in retaliatory anger.
Clara immediately blocked the blow and delivered a second consecutive slap across Victoria's face.
The sharp sound echoed off the high marble walls and reached the upper hallway ceiling.
Victoria stumbled backward against the wooden banister, gasping from the physical pain and humiliation.
"That was for trying to hurt Leo," Clara stated firmly with cold authority.
"You are a cruel bully who thinks money excuses terrible and evil actions."
Victoria pointed a trembling, manicured finger directly at Clara's defiant face.
"I will call the police and have you arrested for assault!" Victoria screamed wildly.
"Go right ahead and call them," Clara replied calmly without stepping back an inch.
Suddenly, the heavy double front doors swung wide open with a loud, forceful bang.
Arthur Wilmossen stepped inside the foyer alongside two uniformed police officers from town.
Arthur had forgotten an important legal file for his morning business board meeting.
He stopped dead in his tracks, staring at the chaotic scene playing out in his home.
"What the hell is happening in my home right now?!" Arthur demanded loudly.
Leo broke away from behind Clara and ran toward his father with tears streaming down his face.
"Daddy! She threw me down the stairs on purpose! She tried to hurt me!" Leo cried hysterically.
Arthur caught his young son in his arms, his heart sinking with absolute horror.
He looked at his crying child, then turned his gaze toward the disheveled stepmother.