Arthur looked back and forth between his crying maid and his emotional fiancée.
His face grew pale as he processed the serious accusation.
Arthur: Elena, is this true?
Elena: No, sir! She is lying to cover her awful action!
Victoria: Do not listen to her wild fabrications, my love!
Elena: She pushed the stroller over the edge while you were away!
Arthur: Stop shouting, both of you!
Arthur walked quickly over to Elena and took his small son into his arms.
He checked the child carefully for any signs of physical harm.
Lucas slowly stopped crying as he felt his father's warm chest.
Arthur turned his stern gaze back to the frightened young maid.
Arthur: Explain exactly what happened on the landing.
Elena: I was polishing the floor near the decorative columns downstairs.
Elena: I looked up and saw Miss Victoria unlatch the stroller wheel.
Elena: She shoved it directly toward the balcony edge with full force.
Victoria: That is an absolute lie, Arthur!
Victoria: I was trying to save the child from her utter carelessness!
Victoria walked over and tried to put her arm around Arthur's shoulder.
Arthur stepped back slightly, feeling deep confusion and growing doubt.
He knew Elena had served his family with utter devotion for years.
Yet he could not fathom why his fiancée would commit such cruelty.
Elena pointed a trembling finger toward the top of the marble stairs.
Elena: Check the wheel lock on the stroller, sir.
Elena: She broke the safety clip manually before pushing it forward.
Elena: My hand prints are on the frame because I caught it dropping.
Victoria's eyes widened in sudden terror as her lie began to unravel.
She had forgotten about the tiny plastic safety latch on the wheels.
Arthur noticed the sudden shift in Victoria's confident demeanor.
A cold chill ran down his spine as realization started to form.
He looked toward the grand staircase with sharp renewed interest.
The truth was waiting to be revealed at the top of the stairs.