Julian stood in the center of the grand marble foyer while light streamed through the towering front windows.
His eight-year-old daughter Maya was upstairs near the high white railing of the inner balcony.
Veronica walked behind the young girl with quick and silent steps across the glossy floor.
Julian felt a sudden chill run down his spine as he looked up from his briefcase.
He dropped his leather bag onto the polished tile with a heavy sound.
Maya screamed out for help when she felt a hard shove against her back.
Her small shoes slipped off the edge of the smooth top step.
Julian moved faster than he ever had in his entire life.
He lunged across the smooth marble floor with his arms fully extended.
The wind caught Maya's yellow dress as she plummeted toward the ground.
Julian slid hard on his knees right into the spot where she fell.
He caught her tiny body securely into his arms a split second before impact.
The force of the catch knocked the breath straight out of his chest.
Maya buried her face deeply into his dark blue suit jacket and began to weep violently.
Julian held her small head against his shoulder while his body trembled from the sheer adrenaline.
He stroked her long hair to comfort her in the middle of the quiet room.
Maya sobbed loudly while clinging to his lapels as tightly as she could.
She told her father that Veronica had pushed her deliberately off the edge.
Julian set his daughter gently down behind the protection of a large stone pillar.
He told her to stay hidden right there until he made sure everything was safe.
His face turned dark with a deep and overwhelming anger.
He turned back toward the curving staircase that led up to the second level.
Veronica was standing near the upper railing while her hands were shaking nervously.
She adjusted her pink shirt while trying to look calm and collected.
Julian took three heavy stairs at a time as he sprinted up toward her.
Veronica gasped and backed up until her shoulders hit the grand wall behind her.
Julian grabbed her by the wrist and demanded an immediate explanation for what happened.
She tried to pull away from his strong grip while stammering out a lie.
She claimed that the young girl had simply lost her footing near the edge.
Julian confronted her with the horrifying truth of what he had just witnessed himself.
He raised his voice in a booming command that echoed off the high ceilings.
He shouted that no one in this home would ever threaten his child again.
He ordered Veronica to leave his estate immediately and never return.
Veronica stumbled backward against the wall in complete shock at his sudden fury.
She clutched her handbag tightly against her chest as tears formed in her eyes.
Julian pointed directly toward the front doors at the end of the hallway.
He told her that her time in his family was officially over right now.