Julian: Is he okay[cite: 1]?
Julian dropped to his knees instantly, his tailored light grey suit trousers pressing hard into the cold white marble floor[cite: 1].
His hands shook violently as he reached down, carefully peeling back the edge of the white cloth wrapping Toby's shivering chest[cite: 1].
Four distinct, purplish-red finger bruises bloomed across the five-month-old baby's tender ribs[cite: 1].
Maria: She twisted his little arm, Mr. Sterling! She was trying to force him to stop crying before her social committee walked in[cite: 1]!
Victoria: Julian, darling! What on earth are you doing home thirty-six hours early from Texas[cite: 1]?!
Julian: I asked a question, Victoria. Why are there bruises on my five-month-old son's body[cite: 1]?
Victoria: The maid dropped him on the marble steps while carrying the laundry baskets, Julian! I was trying to examine him[cite: 1]!
Maria: That is a monstrous lie! You beat my face against the door frame when I tried to pull him out of your arms[cite: 1]!
Victoria: Shut your filthy mouth, Maria! Julian, she is a bitter, jealous servant trying to extort money from our marriage[cite: 1]!
Julian: Maria has worked for my family for twenty-five years, Victoria. She raised me after my mother died[cite: 1].
Victoria: Well, she is getting senile in her old age! She probably squeezed the baby herself because she couldn't handle his colic[cite: 1]!
Maria: Look at my nose, Mr. Sterling! Look at the blood dripping onto your foyer floor[cite: 1]!
Julian looked up from the baby, his gaze sweeping over Maria's swollen left eye, her split lip, and the deep gash across her forehead[cite: 1].
His eyes slowly shifted toward the woman in the royal blue dress, who stood smoothing down her silk skirt with unbothered arrogance[cite: 1].
His gold luxury wristwatch clicked softly against his cuff as his right hand tightened into an iron fist, his heavy gold signet ring cutting into his skin[cite: 1].
A deep, resonant fury flooded his chest, turning his vision into blinding white heat[cite: 1].
Julian rose abruptly to his feet, spinning around with explosive, terrifying power[cite: 1].
His right hand whipped through the air and delivered a deafening, violent slap straight across Victoria's face[cite: 1].
Victoria: Ah[cite: 1]!
The impact cracked like a gunshot through the vaulted white foyer, snapping Victoria's head violently to the side[cite: 1].
Her high heels slipped on the slick tiles, and she crashed down hard onto the white marble floor, her royal blue dress twisting as she lay flat on her hip[cite: 1].
Julian: You dare to lay a hand on my son[cite: 1]!
Victoria clutched her burning red cheek in sheer shock, gasping for breath as she stared up at the towering billionaire[cite: 1].
Victoria: You... You struck me! A billionaire CEO laid his hands on a Vance heiress[cite: 1]!
Julian: I would tear down every pillar in this house before I let a predator touch my flesh and blood, Victoria[cite: 1]!
Victoria: My father will destroy you for this! He controls thirty percent of the voting shares in Sterling Logistics[cite: 1]!
Julian: Your father was arrested at his country club forty-five minutes ago, Victoria[cite: 1].
Victoria froze on the cold stone, the arrogance draining from her eyes as terror took its place[cite: 1].
Victoria: What did you just say[cite: 1]?
Julian: Pick yourself up off the floor and look at the front driveway, Victoria. Because your luxury life ends today[cite: 1].