David kept moving up the wide stairs with steady and determined steps.
Victoria stayed near the top railing without moving a single inch away.
Her maroon dress shone under the bright daylight from the tall windows.
She crossed her arms tight against her chest as David approached her.
David: Tell me the truth about what happened here five minutes ago.
Victoria: Nothing happened here, so please stop shouting at me like this.
David held up the blue baby blanket between his two trembling hands.
David: This blanket was given to Leo by his birth mother before she died.
Victoria: It is just an old piece of cheap wool fabric, David.
David: It was tucked inside his crib when I left for work this morning.
Victoria turned her face away and let out a small dry laugh.
Victoria: You worry far too much about tiny details every single day.
David stepped onto the top floor hallway near the dark wooden doors.
He heard a faint crying sound coming from behind the heavy nursery door.
He rushed down the hall and pulled the silver door handle quickly.
Little Leo was sitting on the soft carpet inside his sunny playpen.
The boy held a yellow plastic truck in his tiny little fingers.
David felt immense relief wash over his entire body in an instant.
He scooped his son up into his arms and held him tight.
David: You are completely safe now, my sweet little baby boy.
Victoria walked slowly into the nursery room with her hands behind her back.
She leaned against the white door frame and watched them both silently.
Victoria: See, he is perfectly fine and completely unharmed in his room.
David: Why was the baby monitor turned off on the side table?
Victoria blinked twice and shrugged her shoulders with total cold indifference.
Victoria: The battery must have died during the late morning hours today.
David checked the back of the white plastic monitor on the table.
The power switch had been flipped to off by a human hand.
He pointed his finger directly at Victoria's calm and unbothered face.
David: You turned this off so you would not hear him cry.
Victoria: Do not make false accusations against me inside my own home!
David: You wanted him left alone up here while you packed your bags.
He saw two large leather suitcases standing near the master bedroom closet.
The legal papers in his briefcase down downstairs had answers about the money.
He carried Leo past Victoria and walked straight back toward the hallway.
David: We are going downstairs right now to talk about the trust fund.
Victoria followed him closely with sharp heavy footsteps on the wood floor.
Victoria: You cannot keep that money locked away from me forever, David!