David dropped his heavy leather suitcase onto the shiny floor with a loud crash. The leather bag bounced twice before coming to a stop near the entryway wall. His eyes wide with sudden shock, David stared across the grand living room at the dark scene unfolding in front of him.
He saw Sarah holding a wooden handle high above her head. He saw Elena bleeding slightly from a scrape on her elbow while covering an old woman on the floor. The sight broke David's heart into a thousand pieces in a single second.
David: What the hell is going on here?!
Sarah froze instantly. The heavy wooden handle slipped an inch in her sweaty hands. The angry color drained from her face, leaving her looking completely pale under the bright room lights.
She quickly lowered the stick behind her back, trying to force a sweet smile onto her red lips. Her voice trembled as she tried to change her tone from cold rage to innocent surprise.
Sarah: David... darling! You are home so early! I was just... I was just cleaning up a mess!
David: Cleaning up a mess? With a mop handle?!
David walked across the room with fast, heavy strides. His boots clicked hard against the white marble. His face was dark with pure fury, his fists clenched tight at his sides as he closed the distance between them.
Sarah stepped back, her high heels clicking nervously against the polished floor. She realized for the first time that David was not looking at her with love. He was looking at her with absolute disgust and anger.
Sarah: David, listen to me first! This lazy maid brought an old homeless woman into our house! She was dirtying our clean living room!
Elena: That is a complete lie! She is not a stranger!
David: Shut your mouth, Sarah!
David did not hesitate. Driven by overwhelming rage and pain, he raised his hand and slapped Sarah hard across the face. The sharp slap echoed off the high ceilings like a gunshot sound effect.
Sarah screamed as the force of the slap sent her stumbling sideways. She lost her balance on her high heels and crashed hard onto the marble floor. Her neat hairstyle fell apart, and her face burned bright red where his hand had landed.
She looked up at David in complete disbelief, holding her bruised cheek with her trembling fingers. She had never seen David raise his voice like this, let alone raise his hand in anger.
Sarah: You... you hit me? Over a pair of useless maids?!
David: Do not ever call them that again!
David ignored Sarah completely as she lay on the floor crying fake tears. He dropped to his knees right beside Elena and the weak older woman lying beneath her. His hands were shaking as he gently pulled Elena up by her arms.
Elena: Thank God you came back early, Mr. Miller! She was hitting her so hard!
David: Are you okay, Elena? Did she hurt your arm badly?
Elena: I am fine, sir. Please check on her first. She took the first hit right on her back.
David turned his eyes to the older woman lying motionless on the marble floor. Tears filled his eyes as he gently gathered her fragile body into his arms, lifting her head off the cold surface.