Julian froze in the doorway, taking in the chaotic sight of Sarah on the floor holding his crying daughter right beneath the American flag.
Julian: "Sarah! What happened?! What is going on here?!"
Sarah: "Sir! She threw your little girl off the balcony!"
Julian: "What?!"
Julian's expression transformed into an intense, gritting rage as he looked up at the second-floor landing.
Victoria was already hurrying down the grand white spiral staircase, her bronze satin gown rustling rapidly while her high heels clicked against the marble steps.
Victoria: "Julian! Please listen to me, it was an accident!"
Julian: "An accident?!"
Victoria: "She was playing near the railing! I tried to grab her dress sash, but she slipped right out of my hands!"
Julian didn't listen to another word. Driven by explosive fury, he charged across the foyer, confronted Victoria right in front of the flag, and slapped her hard across the face three times in rapid succession, knocking her flat onto the floor.
Victoria: "Ah! Stop!"
Julian: "How dare you touch my daughter!"
Victoria: "Please, don't do this! I swear I didn't mean to!"
Victoria clutched her red, bruised cheek in total agony and shock, groaning in pain as she looked up from the cold stone.
Julian: "Get out of my house right now! Call 911!"
Julian walked over to Sarah, gently lifting Lily from her arms and cradling the shaking toddler against his navy suit.
Julian: "Lily, baby, tell Daddy... are you hurt?"
Lily: "Mommy Vic... pushed me... said I don't belong..."
Julian: "Did you hear that, Victoria? My three-year-old child just told me what you did!"
Victoria: "She's three years old, Julian! She's confused! You can't take the word of a baby over your own wife!"
Julian: "I trust my daughter, and I trust Sarah!"
Sarah: "Mr. Vance, I heard her yell at Lily right before she pushed her. I saw her hands shove her over the railing with my own eyes!"
Victoria: "You're lying! You're just a jealous maid trying to get me kicked out so you can keep your job!"
Sarah: "I would never put a child in danger, ma'am! Look at her wrists!"
Julian pulled back the tiny sleeves of Lily's yellow sweater. Dark red finger marks were visibly bruised around both of her delicate wrists.
Julian: "Look at these marks! You grabbed her by force and threw her!"
Victoria: "I was trying to pull her back up! You're twisting everything because you never cared about me!"
Julian: "I brought you into my home! I gave you my late wife's estate to live in, and this is how you repay me?!"
Victoria: "You treat me like an outsider while praising a child who isn't even mine!"
Julian: "Because she is my daughter! And you are a monster!"
Victoria pushed herself up off the floor, her satin gown covered in dust, her hair falling out of its neat bun.
Victoria: "You hit me in front of the staff! I will call my divorce lawyer! I will take half of this estate, half of your company, and every single dollar in your bank accounts!"
Julian: "You won't get a dime. You are leaving this house in handcuffs!"
Victoria: "There are no cameras up there! It's your word against mine! No judge will believe a father who lost his temper over an accident!"
Julian stared at her with cold, dangerous eyes, stepping closer until his shadow covered her trembling frame.
Julian: "Did you really think a billionaire's estate wouldn't have top-tier security installed?"
Victoria's face turned pale as she glanced up toward the ceiling near the American flag.