Arthur stood firmly between his wife and the young maid.
His jaw was tightly clenched as he processed the scene before him.
Elena grabbed her husband's arm, squeezing it tightly to gain his sympathy.
Elena: Sweetheart, she is lying to cover up her own terrible mistake!
Elena: She lost her temper and shoved the stroller right over the top railing!
Maya stepped back, her voice shaking with deep emotional pain.
Maya: I would never do something so dangerous, Mr. Sterling!
Maya: I was holding a basket of laundry when she shoved it off the edge!
Arthur looked at the scattered laundry clothes lying across the marble floor.
He saw that the clothes were neat and clean, dropping right where Maya had stood.
Arthur: Elena, why were you even near the balcony railing with that stroller?
Elena flinched slightly before tightening her grip on Arthur's suit jacket.
Elena: I was just cleaning out the nursery items like you asked me to do!
Elena: Maya got aggressive when I told her she was doing her job poorly!
Arthur: Maya has worked for my family for three years without a single problem.
Elena's eyes flashed with sudden anger at her husband's defensive tone.
Elena: Are you seriously taking the word of a servant over your own wife?!
Arthur: I am trying to figure out the truth of what happened here!
Maya looked down at her hands, trying to wipe away her falling tears.
Maya: Mrs. Sterling has wanted me fired ever since last week, sir.
Arthur: What happened last week, Maya?
Elena: Don't listen to her ridiculous stories, Arthur!
Arthur: Let her speak, Elena!
Maya took a deep breath to steady her rapid breathing.
Maya: I found extra bank envelopes in her dresser while cleaning her bedroom.
Maya: She threatened to ruin my life if I told you about those papers.
Elena's face grew completely pale as she took a step backward on the stairs.
Elena: She is making up lies to save herself from getting fired today!
Arthur noticed his wife's sudden nervous shift in body language.
Arthur: What bank envelopes is she talking about, Elena?
Elena: Nothing! She is invading our privacy and making up total garbage!
Arthur stared closely into his wife's frantic eyes with growing suspicion.
Arthur: We are going up to our bedroom right now to look at those papers.
Elena swallowed hard as Arthur turned toward the grand staircase.