Victoria: Carter, don't look at me like that! We are getting married next month! We are merging our family estates!
Carter: There is no marriage, Victoria.
Victoria: What?! You can't cancel our wedding over a cheap trick!
Carter: A cheap trick? You tried to destroy a young woman's life and send her to prison!
Victoria: She's just a maid! Nobody cares about what happens to a maid!
Overcome with pure rage and disgusted by her sickening cruelty, Carter stepped directly up to Victoria and forcefully slapped her straight across the face.
The heavy impact crack echoed off the marble walls like a gunshot. Victoria let out a loud scream of shock as the force sent her head snapping sideways, stumbling back three steps until her back hit the hallway wall.
Victoria: Ah!
A collective gasp rose from the butler and housekeepers who had gathered near the archway to watch.
Victoria clutched her reddening cheek with both hands, her eyes wide with utter shock and horror as she stared at Carter.
Victoria: You... you hit me?! You struck your own fiancée in front of the servants?!
Carter: You are not my fiancée anymore, Victoria. Get off my property.
Victoria: You can't throw me out! My father invested ten million dollars in your real estate firm last week!
Carter: Harrison, call my corporate attorneys right now. Have them wire her father's investment back to his bank account immediately.
Harrison: Right away, Mr. Sterling.
Victoria: Carter, be reasonable! My family controls thirty percent of the city council! If you break this engagement, we will ruin your corporate reputation!
Carter: You think I care about my reputation when I'm standing next to a monster like you?
Carter turned away from her and knelt down on the marble floor beside Elena. He gently took the tan leather bag from her hands, set the diamond necklace on the cleaning cart, and helped Elena stand up.
Carter: Elena, I am deeply, deeply sorry for what happened here today.
Elena: Mr. Sterling... I... I don't know what to say...
Carter: You don't have to say anything. You were treated with horrific cruelty in my home, and I will make sure justice is served.
Victoria thrashed against the wall, her dark dress rumpled, her manicured nails digging into her leather purse as she glared at the two of them.
Victoria: Look at you! Kneeling to a maid! You're a disgrace to the Sterling name, Carter!
Elena: Mr. Sterling... there is something else you need to know about Mrs. Victoria.
Carter looked up at Elena, noticing the serious, intense look in her tear-stained eyes.
Carter: What is it, Elena?
Elena: This morning, while I was cleaning the study, I found something hidden inside her private coat pocket.
Victoria's face instantly drained of all color. She took a sharp step back, her hands trembling as she looked at Elena.
Victoria: Shut your mouth, you filthy girl! Don't you dare speak!