Ethan walked briskly into the grand mansion lobby while holding his leather briefcase.
He had just returned home from a very important corporate board meeting downtown.
He heard the sound of loud crying as soon as he stepped onto the carpet.
His heart beat fast when he saw Maria holding his tiny wet child.
He dropped his expensive leather briefcase onto the shiny wooden floor right away.
Ethan: What is going on in here?
Ethan: Why is my son screaming like that?
Maria rushed forward to show the wealthy father his wet shivering baby boy.
Maria: Sir, she poured ice water over your baby!
Brenda quickly rushed over toward Ethan while pointing her finger at Maria wildly.
She squeezed out fake tears and pretended to be terribly hurt and shaken up.
Brenda: Ethan, she is lying!
Brenda: She pushed me to the floor for no reason at all, darling!
Ethan looked at Brenda and then looked back down at his crying son.
He reached out his big warm hands and took Lucas into his strong arms.
He felt the soaking wet baby blanket and the freezing ice drops on his skin.
His jaw clenched tightly as real anger began to build up in his chest.
He looked down at the icy silver pitcher lying empty near the sofa edge.
The evidence was right there on the floor for everyone to clearly see.
Ethan: Brenda, look at this child right now.
Brenda: Ethan, you have to believe me instead of the housemaid!
Brenda: She is trying to ruin our marriage because she hates me!
Maria stood her ground firmly despite the angry words from the stepmother.
Maria: I saw her pour the pitcher with my own two eyes, sir.
Maria: The baby was sleeping peacefully until she poured the ice water.
Ethan looked closely into Brenda's eyes to find any sign of actual truth.
He saw only greed, panic, and cruelty in his new wife's dark eyes.
He remembered how she always complained about the baby getting the family inheritance.
All the small clues finally made sense inside the father's troubled mind.
He realized that his new wife was a threat to his only son.
He stepped closer to Brenda while holding his son safely against his chest.
Ethan: You have gone way too far this time, Brenda.
Brenda took a small step backward as Ethan's face turned red with anger.
She tried to reach out to touch his arm to calm him down.
Ethan pulled away from her touch with complete disgust and utter shock.
Ethan: Do not touch me after what you just did to my son!