Outside the tall arched windows of the library, the wail of police sirens broke through the afternoon quiet.
Flashing red and blue lights illuminated the antique oil paintings and the hardwood floorboards.
Victoria: You actually called them? You called the police on your own lawful wife?
Julian: You gave up being my wife the moment you stood on that balcony and timed my son's breathing.
The library doors swung open wide. Two state troopers and a detective walked into the room, their leather holsters creaking.
Detective Reynolds: Mr. Julian Sterling? We received an emergency dispatch regarding felony child endangerment.
Julian: Yes, Detective. The perpetrator is standing right in front of you.
Victoria backed up against the mahogany bookcase, wrapping her beige silk jacket around herself with trembling hands.
Victoria: Detective, this is a horrific misunderstanding! My husband is having an emotional breakdown over an accidental slip!
Detective Reynolds: Ma'am, your estate security chief has already transmitted the raw 4K video feed directly to our cruiser terminal.
Victoria: That footage is completely ambiguous! You cannot arrest a mother for experiencing traumatic paralysis!
Detective Reynolds: Victoria Sterling, you are being placed under arrest for attempted second-degree murder, felony child neglect, and providing false statements to police.
Victoria: Take your hands off me! Do you know who my family is? My father is a senior appellate judge!
Detective Reynolds stepped forward calmly, taking Victoria's right arm and twisting it firmly behind her back.
The cold steel handcuffs snapped shut around her slender wrists with a loud metallic click.
Victoria: Julian! Stop them! Call our corporate counsel! Call the governor's office right now!
Julian: Corporate counsel works for Sterling Maritime, Victoria. And you have just been removed from this family.
Victoria: I will bleed your bank accounts dry in civil court! I will drag your dead wife's memory through every tabloid in New York!
Detective Reynolds: Mind your step, ma'am. Move forward toward the foyer.
Victoria shrieked obscenities as the two troopers guided her down the marble corridor toward the front entrance.
Maya stood near the corner bookcase, her head bowed, her wet uniform leaving a dark ring on the antique Persian rug.
Maya: Mr. Sterling... I am so sorry. I am so sorry your family has to go through this pain.
Julian turned around to face the young woman, his shoulders sagging with overwhelming exhaustion.
Julian: You are apologizing to me? After I stepped up to you on that patio with my fist raised?
Maya: You were terrified for your son, sir. Any father who saw his child like that would lose his mind with anger.
Julian: That does not excuse what I almost did, Maya. I raised my hand against the very person who kept my boy breathing.
The front doors slammed shut downstairs, followed by the muffled revving of police engines leaving the estate grounds.
Julian reached into his pocket, pulled out a clean handkerchief, and handed it gently to Maya.
Julian: Come on. Let's go up to Toby's room. He won't close his eyes until he knows you are safe.