The heavy Oak doors opened again as four armed estate security guards entered, rushing up the staircase to detain Victoria.
Victoria: Get your hands off me! Do you know who I am?! I'm the mistress of this house!
Security Officer: Not anymore, ma'am. Mr. Sterling's orders.
Victoria: Arthur! Tell them to let me go!
Arthur didn't even turn around to face her as the guards cuffed her hands behind her back.
Arthur: Take her to the holding room near the security gate until the chief of police arrives.
Security Officer: Understood, sir.
Victoria was dragged down the rear corridor, her high heels clicking loudly against the floor while she screamed curses at Clara.
Victoria: You ruined my life, you trashy maid! You'll regret this!
Arthur: Clara, let me help you up. You're bleeding from your cheek.
Arthur gently reached down, taking Clara's hand to help her stand up from the cold marble.
Clara: It's just a scratch from my hair clip when we hit the floor, Mr. Sterling.
Arthur: Nonsense. You risked your own safety to catch a falling child from a fifteen-foot drop.
Lily: Clara was super fast, Daddy! She flew like a hero!
Arthur: She certainly did, sweetheart. Come here.
Arthur took Lily into his arms, holding her tight against his expensive suit, his eyes showing clear tears of relief.
Arthur: I was so close to losing you... I shouldn't have left for the office today.
Clara: You couldn't have known what she was planning, sir.
Arthur: I should have known. She was acting strange ever since my late wife's will was finalized last month.
Clara: The will?
Arthur: My late wife left everything directly to Lily in a protected trust fund. Victoria was trying to find a way to break it.
Clara: So if Lily... if something happened to Lily...
Arthur: The entire multi-million dollar inheritance would have defaulted to me, and as my legal wife, Victoria would have had access to all of it.
Clara: That is horrifying. She wanted to eliminate the child just for money.
Arthur: Yes. And she almost succeeded because I was blind to her greed.
Arthur set Lily down gently on the plush velvet sofa in the sitting area, brushing her dark curls out of her eyes.
Arthur: Clara, sit down please. I'm calling my private doctor to inspect your arm and bruised face.
Clara: Really, sir, I don't need a private doctor. A little ice will do fine.
Arthur: I insist. You are family now. You saved the most important person in my world.
Clara: I was just doing my job, Mr. Sterling. I love Lily like she was my own daughter.
Arthur: And that is why you belong here, not as a maid, but as her guardian.
Clara: What do you mean?
Arthur: Victoria was supposed to be her mother figure, but she was a wolf in sheep's clothing. You, Clara, showed true courage.
Clara: I just reacted. Any human being would have tried to catch her.
Arthur: Victoria didn't. She was the one who threw her.
The sound of police sirens began to echo down the long driveway outside the estate gates, flashing red and blue lights reflecting through the glass foyer.
Arthur: The police are here. I need to give my statement, but I want you to stay right here with Lily.
Clara: Of course, sir. I won't leave her side.
Lily: Clara, can we read my storybook now?
Clara: We sure can, sweetie. Let's pick your favorite one.
Arthur watched the two of them walk toward the library, his heart swelling with a mix of anger toward Victoria and deep gratitude toward Clara.