Arthur sat down at his mahogany desk and turned on his computer screen.
His hands were shaking as he typed in the security system master password.
The estate had thirty security cameras recording every single room around the clock.
Arthur opened the main foyer camera feed from ten minutes ago.
He rewound the footage slowly until he saw Victoria walking toward Lily.
Lily was sitting quietly on the top step holding her handmade gold pendant.
The pendant was a gift left behind by Lily's biological mother before she passed away.
It was worth a fortune and held deep emotional value for the whole family.
In the video, Victoria stood behind Lily and reached into the girl's small pocket.
She pulled the gold pendant out and deliberately dropped it down the stairwell.
When Lily turned around quickly to catch it, Victoria did not grab her coat.
Instead, Victoria stepped back and allowed the child to trip over the edge.
Arthur slammed his fist onto the mahogany desk with anger.
Arthur: She did that on purpose just to get that necklace!
He saved the raw video file directly onto a secure memory drive.
Arthur opened his desk drawer and pulled out his phone to make a call.
He dialed the private line of his trust fund attorney and estate advisor.
Arthur: Marcus, I need you at my house immediately with divorce documents.
Marcus: Is everything alright, Arthur? You sound extremely shaken up.
Arthur: My wife tried to cause a terrible accident with my daughter today.
Marcus: I am leaving my office right now and driving straight to you.
Arthur ended the call and walked back over to his young daughter.
Lily looked up at him with tearful eyes and a trembling bottom lip.
Lily: Daddy, Victoria took mama's necklace and threw it away down there.
Arthur: I know, sweet heart, daddy saw everything on the camera.
Lily: Is she going to make us leave this big house now?
Arthur: No, my angel, nobody is going to make us leave ever.
Arthur stroked her hair gently to reassure her that she was completely safe.
He heard heavy footstep sound coming from the hallway outside his office.
Victoria knocked loudly on the thick wooden door twice with her fingernails.
Victoria: Arthur, open this door right now so we can talk like adults!
Arthur: Go wait in the living room before I call the police on you!
Victoria: You cannot throw me out, I have rights under our prenuptial agreement!
Arthur: That agreement has a clause for child endangerment, Victoria!
Victoria went silent on the other side of the heavy office door.
Arthur heard her high heels clicking quickly away down the long corridor.
He knew that Victoria was planning her next move to save herself.
He picked up Lily and decided to head downstairs to confront her directly.