Mark knelt down right beside Elena and embraced his crying son tightly.
He held the young boy close while looking up at Elena with gratitude.
"Thank you for saving my son," Mark whispered in a shaking voice.
Elena wrapped her arms around both of them as the boy calmed down.
Victoria slowly picked herself up from the hard floor with severe bruised pride.
"I will sue both of you for assault!" Victoria spat out hysterically.
Mark pulled out his phone and played an audio recording file out loud.
His voice echoed through the hallway along with Victoria's clear loud threats.
"I installed security cameras with live audio in this hallway yesterday," Mark said.
Victoria went pale white as she stared at the glowing smartphone screen.
Every single frame of her assault on the young boy was captured clearly.
Two uniform sheriff deputies entered the front doors downstairs at that exact moment.
Mark had called them from his car when he heard the alarm trigger.
The officers walked quickly up the grand stairs to inspect the chaotic scene.
"Officer, arrest this woman for illegal trespassing and child endangerment," Mark commanded.
Victoria tried to back away down the hall toward the master guest room.
The deputy caught her arm quickly and snapped heavy steel handcuffs on her wrists.
"You are under arrest for breaking and entering and assault," the officer stated.
Victoria shrieked in outrage as she was led down the broad wooden steps.
Elena patted Leo's back softly while he dried his wet eyes on her sweater.
"She can never hurt you ever again, sweetie," Elena said softly to him.
Mark wiped a tear from his eye and looked deep into Elena's eyes.
"You saved my family today when I was not here," Mark said earnestly.
"I promised your late wife I would always protect him," Elena replied softly.
Mark took a deep breath as the distant police siren slowly faded away.
The dark storm clouds outside began to break apart over the quiet lake.