Mary threw her arms around little Lily and pulled the terrified girl protectively against her chest.
Lily buried her small face into Mary's uniform while sobbing quietly from the intense panic and fear.
Victoria: Let go of her right now, you foolish old woman, or you will regret this forever!
Mary: I will never let you hurt this innocent child as long as I am breathing in this house!
Victoria raised her hand to strike Mary across the face in a fit of wild unbridled fury.
At that exact moment, the heavy double mahogany front doors slammed open with a loud echoing thud.
Richard stepped into the sunlit mansion foyer with his leather briefcase tucked under his left arm.
He stopped dead in his tracks as his eyes registered the terrifying drama unfolding directly before him.
He saw his wife standing over his crying daughter with her hand raised in a menacing threat.
His face flushed dark red with pure disbelief and burning rage as he dropped his heavy briefcase.
Richard: How could you do this to my daughter?!
Victoria gasped sharply in shock and spun around to face her husband with pale white cheeks.
Her entire confident demeanour instantly vanished as she realized she had been caught completely red handed.
She rushed down the final steps of the marble staircase while putting on a desperate fake smile.
Victoria: Richard, listen to me right now because it is absolutely not what it looks like at all!
Victoria: The maid was being reckless with Lily and I was only trying to protect our precious child!
Mary looked up from the floor with tears running down her wrinkled cheeks as she held Lily tight.
Mary: That is a complete lie, Mr. Vance, she was threatening to harm Lily over money documents!
Richard walked forward with heavy furious strides that echoed loudly across the wide white marble entrance hall.
He stepped directly between Victoria and the maid to shield his shaking daughter from any further distress.
Richard: I heard every single word you said from the front doorway, Victoria!