Victoria: It was an accident! She slipped from my hands!
Elena: You threw her! I saw you open your hands and let her fall!
Victoria: Shut your mouth! You didn't see anything, you pathetic maid!
Elena: You held her over the rail on purpose!
Victoria: Keep talking like that and I will make sure you are fired without a single penny of your paycheck!
Elena: Fire me if you want, but you will never hurt this child again!
Victoria: She was playing on the railing! I reached out to grab her dress, but the fabric was too smooth!
Elena: I saw your hands, Victoria! You held her out over the drop!
Victoria: You are a lying servant! Who do you think my husband will believe?
Before Victoria could take another step toward them, the heavy double front doors swung open with a violent slam. Julian Sterling rushed inside in his beige suit, his face pale with worry as he heard the screams echoing through the foyer.
Julian: What is going on in here?! What was that screaming?!
Victoria: Julian, darling! Oh thank God you're home!
Julian: Lily! Oh my God, Lily!
Julian dropped heavily to his knees on the cold marble floor, scooping the crying little girl up into his arms and holding her tight against his chest.
Julian: I've got you. No one will ever touch you again!
Lily: Daddy! Mommy Victoria dropped me! She held me over the wall!
Victoria: Julian, don't listen to her! The child is confused! The maid startled us while we were playing on the balcony, and Lily slipped right out of my hands!
Elena: That is a lie, Mr. Sterling! She held her over the railing and told her to say goodbye before letting go!
Victoria: How dare you make up such sick, disgusting stories! You dropped her while cleaning and now you're trying to blame me to save your job!
Julian: Shut up, Victoria! Just shut your mouth!
Julian stood up slowly, cradling his trembling daughter against his shoulder while his face contorted with intense, burning rage.
Julian: You threw my motherless daughter off a second-floor balcony?!
Victoria: Julian, listen to reason! I love Lily like my own child! Why would I ever want to harm her?
Julian: Because you wanted her trust fund! You wanted her out of the way so you could take complete control of my late wife's family estate!
Victoria: That is absurd! My family has plenty of social standing! I don't need your money!
Julian: Then why were you asking my estate lawyer about my daughter's life insurance policy yesterday afternoon?
Victoria stiffened instantly, her defensive smile faltering for a split second before she forced a calm, mocking expression back onto her face.
Victoria: I was simply inquiring about our family's long-term financial security! That is my duty as your lawful wife!
Julian: You are not my wife anymore! You are a monster!
Julian turned around furiously and shoved Victoria back with all his strength.
Victoria: AAAAAH!
Victoria lost her balance completely, falling hard onto her back across the white marble floor and screaming out in shock.
Julian: Get up! Listen to me right now!
Victoria: You pushed me! That is domestic assault, Julian! I'll call my father's legal team and take every single asset you own!
Julian: Call them right now! Because if you don't call them, I am calling the police!
Elena: Mr. Sterling, please be careful. She threatened me earlier and said she would make sure you lost custody if I ever spoke up.
Julian: She won't touch anyone in this house ever again, Elena. Her games end today.
Victoria scrambled back up to her feet, her expensive orange gown covered in dust as she glared at him with pure malice.
Victoria: You have zero proof, Julian! It's your maid's word against mine! Who do you think the family court judge will believe when my family's lawyers step into that courtroom?
Julian: You really think I didn't prepare for a snake like you?
Victoria: What are you talking about?
Julian: Elena, take Lily upstairs to her room right now. Lock the door from the inside and keep her safe until the police arrive.
Elena: Yes, Mr. Sterling. Right away.
Elena stood up carefully, her knees badly bruised from sliding across the stone floor. She took Lily gently from Julian's arms, whispering soft reassurances as she carried the toddler away from the foyer.
Lily: Daddy, don't let her come near us again!
Julian: She won't, sweetheart. Daddy is taking care of everything right now.