Christopher: Oh my god! Are you okay, baby?!
Christopher dropped to his knees on the checkered marble, unclipping the leather leash instantly and scooping little Leo into his arms[cite: 1]. He cradled the infant tightly against his grey suit jacket, kissing the baby's wet forehead while his own body trembled with shock[cite: 1].
Julianne: Christopher, darling, let me explain! It’s not what it looks like at all!
Christopher: Explain?! You have a leash attached to my son!
Julianne: It’s a toddler safety harness, sweetheart! I was just teaching him how to crawl properly!
Elena: She's lying, Mr. Vance!
Elena pushed herself up against the wall, her face pale and her hand clutching her bruised, swollen cheek as she pointed a shaking finger at Julianne[cite: 1].
Elena: She hurts the baby every time you leave for the office!
Christopher: What did you just say, Elena?
Julianne: Don't listen to this low-class maid, Christopher! She's making up stories to get money out of us!
Elena: I have no reason to lie, sir! The moment your limousine leaves the driveway, she locks Leo in the storage pantry! Today she attached that strap to his clothes and dragged him across the stone!
Christopher: Is this true, Julianne?!
Julianne: Of course it isn't true! The maid is jealous of my status! I was just guiding him!
Elena: Look at his knees, Mr. Vance! Look at his little legs!
Christopher lifted Leo slightly, looking down at his son's legs[cite: 1]. The baby's soft skin was covered in red scrapes and bruises from being pulled across the hard marble floor[cite: 1].
Christopher: My God... my sweet boy...
Julianne: Christopher, infants get bruises all the time when they learn to move around! You're overreacting over nothing!
Christopher: Overreacting?! You dragged an eight-month-old child like an animal!
Julianne: I am his stepmother! I have the right to discipline him how I see fit!
Christopher: He is a baby! He doesn't need discipline, he needs love!
Julianne: You care more about this brat than you do about me! I am your wife!
Christopher: You are a monster in a dress!
Christopher’s face twisted into an intense, terrifying rage, his teeth gritting together so hard his jaw throbbed[cite: 1]. The low, suffocating silence of the hallway was broken only by the sound of his heavy breathing[cite: 1].
Julianne: Christopher... calm down. You're scaring me.
Christopher: You should be scared.
He handed the crying baby gently over to Elena, making sure she held Leo securely before he turned around to face his wife[cite: 1].
Elena: I've got him, Mr. Vance. I've got him safe.
Christopher: Thank you, Elena. Now stand back.
Christopher took two aggressive steps forward, closing the distance between himself and Julianne in a split second[cite: 1].
Julianne: Christopher, don't you dare—
Before she could finish her sentence, Christopher swung his arm forward, striking Julianne hard across the face[cite: 1]. The loud, violent crack of the impact shattered the silence, forcing her stumbling back hard against the hallway wall[cite: 1].
Julianne: Ah! You hit me! You actually hit me!
Christopher: Get out of my house before I ruin your life!
Julianne: You can't throw me out! We are legally married! I own half of this estate!
Christopher: You don't own a single blade of grass on this property, and by tonight, you won't even have a dollar to your name!