Victoria's face turned completely pale the moment the words left the brave maid's mouth today.
She had forgotten that Richard had installed modern security cameras throughout the entire house last month.
The tiny camera lenses were hidden discreetly inside the high corners of the grand marble ceiling.
Richard frowned deeply, glancing up at the small black dome mounted high on the wall.
"The security system records everything directly to my private office tablet," Richard said quietly.
"No, Richard! You don't need to waste your time checking those silly cameras!" Victoria shouted panicked.
"This maid is just stalling for time because she knows she is in terrible trouble now!"
"If you check those cameras, you are showing that you don't trust your own devoted wife!"
The senior police officer raised his hand calmly, stepping directly between Richard and Victoria now.
"Ma'am, if there is video evidence of the event, it is standard procedure to review it."
"Mr. Sterling, please open the video footage so we can resolve this matter correctly today."
Richard pulled his thin digital tablet from his leather briefcase with noticeably shaking hands now.
He typed in his security password and opened the real-time playback menu for the foyer camera.
The screen displayed a crystal clear, high-definition recording of the grand staircase from ten minutes ago.
Everyone gathered closely around the small screen, including the two sharp, silent police officers.
The video clearly showed little Leo sitting quietly on the floor with his small toy car.
It showed Victoria walking down the stairs, wearing her bright yellow gown with a cold look.
The camera captured her reaching out her hands and giving the small boy a deliberate push.
It clearly showed Leo slipping, screaming, and falling backward toward the hard stone landing steps.
The video then showed Elena sprinting across the room with incredible speed to catch the falling child.
It showed the brave maid taking the hard blow, protecting the boy with her own body completely.
Richard stared at the screen in utter horror, his entire world crumbling in a few seconds.
He looked up from the tablet and stared at Victoria as if she were a total stranger.
"You... you tried to harm my only son?" Richard whispered, his voice trembling with deep rage.
"Richard, please! It was a total mistake! I didn't mean it!" Victoria begged, backing away quickly.
"I was just trying to scare him a little bit! I swear I didn't mean it!"