Twenty minutes later, the master bedroom door swung wide open again.
Victoria walked out carrying two large, expensive designer leather suitcases.
She wore dark sunglasses and a thick fur coat over her red dress.
She looked around the room, expecting Julian to apologize to her now.
Instead, Julian sat calmly at the table, sipping his fresh coffee.
Sarah and Lily were sitting nearby, enjoying fresh orange juice together.
Victoria stomped her designer boots across the polished hardwood floor.
Victoria: My taxi is waiting downstairs right now, Julian.
Victoria: I am going to stay at the luxury hotel downtown.
Victoria: I expect you to call me when you are ready to apologize.
Julian did not even turn his head to look at her right away.
He took another slow sip of his warm coffee before speaking up.
Julian: You will not need that hotel room, Victoria.
Julian: Your credit cards will not work when you try to pay.
Victoria froze in her tracks, her hand gripping her suitcase handle tightly.
She pulled off her dark sunglasses and stared at him with wide eyes.
Victoria: What did you just say to me, Julian?
Julian: I spoke with my head accountant ten minutes ago.
Julian: All joint accounts and credit cards have been officially frozen.
Victoria's face turned completely red with immediate, uncontrolled fury.
Victoria: You cannot do that to me! That is my money too!
Julian: It was my money, Victoria.
Julian: Money that you secretly transferred to an offshore bank account.
Victoria's jaw dropped open as all the color drained from her cheeks.
She took a quick step back, nearly dropping her heavy leather suitcase.
Victoria: I... I do not know what you are talking about at all!
Julian: Stop lying, Victoria. I have all the bank statements right here.
Julian: Two hundred thousand dollars taken over six short months.
Julian: You were planning to steal from me and run away eventually.
Victoria looked around the room desperately, searching for an easy exit route.
She looked at Sarah, who was watching her with a steady, quiet gaze.
Victoria felt a wave of deep embarrassment crash down hard upon her.
Victoria: Julian, please... we can talk about this privately in the office!
Julian: There is nothing left for us to discuss privately anymore.
Julian: My lawyer is already drafting our formal divorce papers today.
Julian: And he will be filing criminal fraud charges with the police.
Victoria let out a sharp cry of anger and threw her purse down.
Victoria: You are throwing away our entire marriage over this?
Victoria: Over a little money and a maid's silly child?
Julian stood up slowly and walked over to stand right beside Sarah.
He placed a supportive, friendly hand on Sarah's narrow shoulder.
Julian: Sarah and Lily have more heart than you ever possessed.
Julian: Money means nothing if you treat human beings like trash.
Julian: Now pick up your bags and leave my home immediately.
Victoria looked into Julian's cold eyes and knew she had lost completely.
She grabbed her heavy suitcases with shaking, panicked hands.
She hurried toward the private elevator door without saying another single word.
The elevator doors chimed softly and slid closed behind her quick departure.
The penthouse grew silent, filled only with the bright morning sunlight.
Julian took a deep breath and felt a massive weight lift away.