Richard took a sharp breath as he looked up at his terrified daughter standing near the railing.
Maya clutched her small yellow dress with shaking hands while staring down at her father in tears.
Maya: Daddy! Help me please!
Richard: Stay right there Maya!
Victoria: Calm down Richard, nothing is wrong!
Richard: Take your hands off her now!
Richard ran across the white marble floor, his leather shoes sliding quickly against the polished high surface.
He reached the bottom of the grand staircase just as Maya stumbled forward in sheer panicked fear.
Victoria tried to grab the girl's arm, making the poor child lose her balance on the top step.
Richard lunged forward with incredible speed, catching Maya securely in his strong arms before she fell.
He dropped to his knees on the marble, holding his sobbing child tightly against his blue jacket.
Richard: I have got you, sweetheart!
Maya: She scared me so much!
Richard: You are completely safe now.
Victoria: It was a complete accident!
Victoria rushed down the carpeted stairs, her emerald green satin dress rustling loudly with every single step.
Her face was pale as she tried to put on an innocent expression to trick her angry husband.
She claimed that Maya had slipped while looking over the high railing to watch the street outside.
Richard stood up slowly while holding Maya firmly on his hip, his eyes burning with intense rage.
He saw the truth behind Victoria's fake tears and fake panic for the very first time today.
She did not care about the safety or happiness of his beloved daughter at all inside this house.
She only cared about gaining control over the multi-million dollar family business and deep private bank accounts.
Richard: Do not lie to my face again!
Victoria: I was only trying to protect her!
Richard: You locked her upstairs inside her room!
Victoria: That is simply not true at all!
Maya buried her wet face into her father's neck, trembling from the terrible emotional trauma she suffered.
Richard pointed his finger directly at Victoria, his voice echoing loudly off the grand high atrium walls.
He realized that his peaceful home had turned into a dangerous trap for his innocent motherless daughter.
He vowed right then and there that Victoria would pay legal consequences for every action she took.
He called his personal security detail to report the situation immediately before taking another step forward tonight.