Arthur: What the hell is going on in my house?!
Arthur Montgomery rushed through the doorway in a sharp dark business suit, his necktie loosened in pure panic[cite: 1]. His leather briefcase tumbled from his trembling hand, hitting the marble floor with a heavy thud as his eyes locked onto his weeping children[cite: 1].
Arthur: Who called me?! What happened here?!
Maya: Daddy! Oh God, Daddy! You came back!
Victoria: Arthur... darling! What are you doing home so early from your meeting?
Arthur: Maya! Look at your face! What happened to your forehead?!
Maya: Daddy, she took everything! Step-mother took my laptop, my phone, and locked away my medicine in her bedroom safe[cite: 1]!
Arthur: What?! She locked away your prescription pain pills?!
Maya: Yes! And when I tried to ask her for Noah's fever medicine, she shoved me into the hallway door! My head hit the brass handle!
Arthur stood frozen in the center of the foyer, his heart hammering against his ribs as he absorbed his daughter's words[cite: 1]. He looked at Maya’s tear-stained face, seeing the ugly purple bruise rising on her forehead and her trembling hands clutching the crutches[cite: 1]. He looked at little Noah, whose face was bright red from screaming and fever[cite: 1]. Then his gaze shifted slowly toward Victoria, who stood near the stairs in her red sequin gown, trying to force a calm smile onto her red lips[cite: 1].
Victoria: Arthur, sweetie, don't listen to her! She's lying to you! The girl is completely ungrateful and dramatic!
Arthur: She’s fourteen years old with a fractured leg! How could she be lying about a bruise on her head?!
Victoria: She tripped over her own crutches, Arthur! I was trying to help her, but she threw a tantrum because I wouldn't let her play video games all afternoon!
Maya: That's not true, Dad! Check her phone! Check her safe! She took my school laptop so I couldn't email my teachers or call for help!
Arthur: Victoria... where is my daughter's phone?
Victoria: I confiscated it as a parent! She was being disrespectful to me!
Arthur: You are NOT her mother! You have been in this family for four months, and you dare lock away a child's medical prescriptions?!
Victoria: I was just trying to teach them some discipline! You spoil them constantly with your money and your late-wife's trust fund accounts!
Arthur: You don't bring my late wife into this! She cared for these children with every breath she had, while you treat them like garbage the second my back is turned!
Victoria: Watch your tone with me, Arthur! I am your wife, and I demand respect in this mansion!
Arthur’s teeth gritted so hard his jaw throbbed, his hands curling into tight fists at his sides[cite: 1]. The blind rage inside him boiled over as he took three fast, aggressive steps forward, closing the distance between himself and the woman standing on the marble floor[cite: 1].