Brenda glared down at Victoria with cold, venomous hatred in her eyes.
She straightened her green dress, trying to restore her lost sense of pride.
Brenda: You are just a hired event planner with no standing here!
Victoria: That does not give you permission to mistreat this young boy!
Brenda: He is my stepson, and I discipline him as I see fit!
Toby clung closer to Victoria, his small frame shaking with continuous sobs.
Victoria stroked the boy's brown hair gently, attempting to calm his racing heart.
Victoria: This is not discipline, Brenda, this is pure mistreatment!
Brenda: Leave this house right now before I call security on you!
Before Victoria could respond, heavy double front doors slammed open with immense force.
The loud bang echoed through the tall hallway like a sudden thunderclap.
Mark Sterling strode rapidly into the grand entrance, wearing a dark navy suit.
He had returned unexpectedly from his morning business meeting early.
His face was red with frustration as he witnessed the intense scene unfold.
Mark: What on earth is going on in my hallway right now?!
Brenda instantly changed her tone, putting on a fake look of deep shock.
Brenda: Mark, darling, this stranger attacked me for no reason at all!
Victoria: That is a complete lie, Mr. Sterling, look at your son!
Mark looked down at his trembling child wrapped tightly in Victoria's arms.
He saw the red marks on Toby's wrists and the tears on his pale cheeks.
Mark stepped forward rapidly, his eyes narrowing directly on his red-haired wife.
He placed himself directly between Brenda and his vulnerable young boy.
Mark: Brenda, why was my son screaming across the entire house?!
Brenda: He was being throw a tantrum and refused to listen to me!
Victoria: She was swinging him around and dragging him along the floor!
Mark's face turned pale as he absorbed Victoria's fierce and honest words.
He turned toward Brenda with anger radiating from every line of his posture.
Mark: Is this how you treat my son when I am not home?!
Brenda: She is exaggerating everything to ruin my reputation in this family!
Toby raised his tear-streaked face from Victoria's burgundy coat slowly.
Toby: Daddy, she locked me in the room and hurt my arm!
Mark knelt on the hardwood floor beside Victoria and his crying son.
He pulled Toby into his arms, holding him with fierce fatherly love.
Mark: Touch my son again, Brenda, and you will regret it deeply!
Brenda backed away toward the grand staircase, gasping loudly in shock.
Her mask of perfection had completely shattered in front of her husband.
Mark turned his attention away from Brenda to focus on Victoria's protective actions.
Mark: Thank you for saving my son from harm today, Victoria.
Victoria: I only did what any decent person should have done, Mark.
Mark: You are safe now, Toby, nobody will hurt you ever again.
Mark squeezed his son tight while glaring up at Brenda with absolute disgust.
The full reality of his stepwife's hidden behavior was finally exposed.