Victoria stood near the heavy wooden doors, holding her bruised cheek while trying to regain her composure. She looked down at her stained ruby gown and then glared at Arthur, who was holding Lily in his arms under the American flag.
Victoria: "You think the police will believe you?! It's your word against mine! There are no marks on her, and no court will accept the testimony of a maid!"
Arthur: "Do you really think I'm that stupid, Victoria?"
Victoria: "What are you talking about?"
Arthur: "Did you think a billionaire's mansion wouldn't have top-tier security in every single corridor?"
Victoria froze, her breath catching in her throat as she slowly turned her head toward the high white ceiling.
Victoria: "You... you said the upper floor cameras were turned off for repairs this week!"
Arthur: "I lied to you. I noticed money missing from my personal account last month, so I had brand-new 4K hidden cameras installed throughout the entire second floor."
Victoria: "No... that's impossible..."
Arthur: "Every single second of what you did on that balcony was recorded in crystal-clear definition, with full audio."
Arthur pulled his smartphone from his navy suit pocket, tapped the screen, and turned the display toward Victoria. The distinct sound of Victoria's voice echoed through the high foyer: "You don't belong in this mansion!" followed immediately by Lily's terrified screams.
Sarah gasped as she heard the recording, holding her hands over her mouth while fresh tears filled her eyes.
Sarah: "Oh Lord... she really meant to do it..."
Victoria: "Arthur, please! Turn that off! Delete it!"
Arthur: "Delete it?! You attempted to murder my three-year-old child in cold blood!"
Victoria: "I was desperate! You forced me into a corner!"
Arthur: "Forced you into a corner?! I gave you a luxury lifestyle, an unlimited credit card, and a home in this mansion!"
Sarah: "Mr. Vance, last week I saw her reading legal papers in your private office. She was asking someone on the phone about your family trust fund."
Arthur turned his sharp gaze toward Victoria, his jaw clenching tightly.
Arthur: "What legal papers, Victoria?"
Victoria: "It was nothing! Just general estate planning!"
Sarah: "She was looking at the inheritance clause, sir. I heard her ask if the prenup agreement would be voided if the sole heir passed away."
A heavy, chilling silence fell over the grand foyer. Arthur looked at his wife with pure disgust, the realization settling deep into his chest.
Arthur: "You wanted her out of the picture so you could inherit my entire estate..."
Victoria: "Your prenup gave me nothing! Five hundred thousand dollars if we divorced! That is pocket change for someone with your net worth!"
Arthur: "Half a million dollars was more than generous for two years of marriage!"
Victoria: "I deserved half of this company! I deserved half of this mansion! Why should a three-year-old child inherit tens of millions while I live on crumbs?!"
Arthur: "Because she is my biological daughter! And you are a evil, greedy monster!"
Victoria: "I gave up my youth for you! I played the happy stepmother while you spent eighteen hours a day in corporate boardrooms!"
Arthur: "You played a role to get your hands on my money! But your act is officially over!"
Outside the mansion, the distant wail of police sirens began echoing up the long private drive, getting louder by the second.
Victoria: "No... no! You didn't call them already!"
Sarah: "I pressed the emergency panic button on my smartwatch the second I caught Lily, ma'am. The police were dispatched five minutes ago."
Victoria's eyes went wide with sheer terror. She spun around and tried to open the grand double doors to run toward her sports car, but Arthur stepped forward, grabbing her wrist tightly and shoving her back into the center of the foyer.
Arthur: "You aren't running away from this, Victoria."