Arthur looked closely at the crying faces in front of him.
He looked at the broken heavy stone near the grand stairs.
He looked at the scraped knees of the faithful maid.
Elena had worked in his home with total honesty for years.
She had always cared for Lily with total warmth and affection.
Victoria had only married him a few short months ago.
Arthur felt a cold wave of realization wash over his heart.
Arthur: Elena, tell me exactly what happened right now.
Victoria: Why are you asking her instead of your own wife?!
Arthur: Silence, Victoria, let her speak her words!
Elena took a deep breath to calm her shaking voice down.
Elena: She pushed the heavy statue off the balcony edge!
Elena: It fell right near Lily while she was playing!
Elena: I slid across the floor to pull Lily away!
Victoria gasped loudly and shook her hands in fake shock.
Victoria: She is lying to steal money from our family!
Victoria: She wants to get me thrown out of this house!
Arthur walked toward the grand staircase without saying a word.
He looked up at the balcony railing where the statue stood.
He noticed fresh scratch marks on the polished wooden railing edge.
The heavy stone could never have fallen down all by itself.
It required a strong push to tip over the high ledge.
Arthur turned around slowly to face his young wife again.
His eyes were cold and filled with deep emotional pain.
Arthur: That stone was far too heavy to slide alone.
Victoria: It must have been an unfortunate draft of wind!
Arthur: Wind does not move solid heavy marble, Victoria!
Arthur stepped closer to Victoria with stern authority in his posture.
He pointed his finger directly toward her lying face now.
Arthur: You put my innocent daughter in serious physical danger!
Victoria: Please, let me explain what really happened!
Arthur: You have lied to me since the day we married!
The sound of heavy breathing filled the quiet bright room.
Lily held onto Elena's neck while watching her father closely.