Maria: Sir, she tried to burn your baby with a hot iron[cite: 1]!
Victoria: Ethan, she is lying! She has completely lost her mind[cite: 1]!
Ethan: Maria, what did you just say[cite: 1]?
Maria: Look at the floor, Mr. Sterling! Look at the scorch mark on the marble[cite: 1]!
Ethan took two rapid strides into the living room, his dark burgundy coat flaring behind him[cite: 1].
His eyes locked onto the black laundry iron lying beside the velvet sofa, its base still humming with intense heat[cite: 1].
A dark brown burn ring was smoking against the edge of Toby's baby blanket[cite: 1].
Ethan: Victoria... what was that iron doing near my son's sofa[cite: 1]?
Victoria: I was steaming the curtains, darling! I dropped it when the maid startled me[cite: 1]!
Maria: The curtains are ten feet away, sir! She was hovering it directly over Toby's chest[cite: 1]!
Victoria: She attacked me, Ethan! She ran into the room like an animal and struck my face twice[cite: 1]!
Maria: I heard her threatening him through the open corridor, Mr. Sterling[cite: 1]!
Victoria: You dare take the word of hired help over your fiancee[cite: 1]?
Ethan: Why were you even touching the iron, Victoria? We have a full household staff[cite: 1].
Victoria: I wanted everything perfect for the corporate gala tonight! Is it a crime to help around the house[cite: 1]?
Maria: She dismissed the other two nannies at nine this morning, sir[cite: 1].
Ethan: You sent the nannies away, Victoria[cite: 1]?
Victoria: They were incompetent, Ethan! They were tracking mud across the entrance rugs[cite: 1]!
Maria: She sent them away because she didn't want any witnesses[cite: 1].
Victoria: Shut your mouth, Maria! You are fired! Pack your bags and get off this estate right now[cite: 1]!
Maria: You don't sign my paychecks, Miss Vance! Mr. Sterling does[cite: 1]!
Ethan looked down at his crying son, whose tiny chest was flushed bright red from distress[cite: 1].
A vein pulsed violently on Ethan's forehead as he turned his gaze back to Victoria's gold gown[cite: 1].
Ethan: You told me you would care for Toby like your own blood[cite: 1].
Victoria: And I do, Ethan! I adore him! But this maid is trying to sabotage our wedding[cite: 1]!
Ethan: Maria has worked for my family for twenty-five years, Victoria[cite: 1].
Victoria: She is jealous because I am becoming the mistress of the Sterling estate[cite: 1]!
Maria: I raised your late wife Clara from a child, Mr. Sterling! I swore on her grave I would protect Toby[cite: 1]!
Victoria: Clara is dead, Maria! Stop bringing up a ghost in every conversation[cite: 1]!
Ethan: Do not speak her name with that tone in my presence, Victoria[cite: 1].
Victoria: Ethan, look at my cheek! It is swelling! Are you going to let a servant assault me[cite: 1]?
Ethan: Did you hold that iron over my boy, Victoria? Answer me right now[cite: 1]!
Victoria: I told you, it slipped from my hand! Why are you interrogating me like a criminal[cite: 1]?
Maria: She told him, 'Quiet down, you little brat, or I'll give you a real reason to cry'[cite: 1]!
Victoria: That is a disgusting lie fabricated by a bitter old woman[cite: 1]!
Ethan: Maria never lies to me, Victoria[cite: 1].
Victoria: So you trust her more than the woman who is merging thirty million dollars into your logistics firm[cite: 1]?
Ethan: I don't give a damn about your father's logistics shares right now[cite: 1]!
Victoria: You will when our loan covenants come due next month, darling[cite: 1]!
Ethan stepped forward, his eyes burning with cold, dangerous fury as he stared at the woman in gold[cite: 1].
Ethan: Are you threatening my family business to cover up abusing my infant son[cite: 1]?
Victoria: I am reminding you of who holds the financial leverage in this marriage[cite: 1]!
Ethan raised his right hand, his face darkening into an expression Maria had never seen in twenty-five years[cite: 1].
Before Victoria could take another breath, his palm struck her across the face with devastating force[cite: 1].