David rushed across the wide marble floor with long, furious strides toward his panicked wife.
Victoria backed away quickly, dropping the heavy leather strap onto the floor beside her feet.
She tried to put on a soft and innocent expression, but her trembling hands gave her away.
Victoria: David, darling, you are completely misunderstanding what just happened here!
David: I saw you holding that belt against my employee with my own eyes!
Victoria: She was being rude and disobeying my clear instructions for cleaning!
Clara: That is not true, Mr. Vance! I wanted to feed your baby!
David looked over at Clara, noticing her shaking hands and tears welling up in her eyes.
He turned his gaze up toward the nursery where the baby's crying was finally slowing down slightly.
David felt a sickening knot form deep inside his stomach as the painful truth hit him hard.
For months he had suspected that Victoria was keeping secrets and hiding her true aggressive nature.
Every time he asked about Clara's tense behavior, Victoria had claimed the maid was simply nervous.
Now he was witnessing the dark reality of how his wife treated people when he left.
David: How long has this kind of behavior been going on in my absence?
Clara: Every single day you leave for work, sir. Every single day.
Victoria: She is lying to you! She wants to get me in trouble!
David: Shut your mouth right now, Victoria!
The anger in David's voice was so absolute that Victoria gasped and took a step back.
She had never heard her husband speak with such raw, cold fury in all their years.
David walked past her without another word and hurried up the grand curving staircase quickly.
He entered the nursery and picked up little Liam from his crib, holding him close tight.
The baby rested his tiny wet cheek against his father's shoulder, settling down instantly.
David patted his son's back gently while staring out the nursery doorway down into the hall.
He realized that his home had become a place of fear instead of safety for his child.
Clara walked up the stairs slowly, holding a warm milk bottle she had prepared rapidly.
Clara: Here is his milk, sir. He has been hungry for hours.
David: Thank you, Clara. You are the only one who cared for him today.
Victoria: David, come downstairs right now so we can talk about this privately!
David: We have nothing left to talk about behind closed doors ever again!
David carried his baby down the stairs while looking directly into Victoria's fearful eyes.