The grand hallway became completely quiet except for the baby's soft, fading cries.
Victoria stepped back toward the wall, trying to quickly put on her gentle, innocent act once again.
Victoria: Mark, please listen to me, I was only trying to teach Clara a lesson about discipline!
Mark: By locking a one-year-old baby inside a cold storage room like an object?!
Victoria: You are overreacting! I have given up my life to help you raise this child!
Mark: You did not give up anything, you lived in my home and spent my hard-earned money!
Clara stepped forward and pulled out her small hidden notebook from inside her apron pocket.
Clara: Mr. Sterling, I have written down every single date and time she mistreated Lily.
Clara: She threatened to fire me and ruined my phone so I could not call you for help.
Mark took the notebook from Clara and flipped through the handwritten pages with growing rage.
Every line detailed Victoria's cold behavior, harsh insults, and deliberate neglect of the baby.
He looked up at Victoria, his eyes sharp and burning with absolute legal fury.
Mark: You are a greedy, cruel monster who used my family trust to hurt my child!
Victoria: Mark, we are blood! You cannot take the side of a common maid over your sister!
Mark: Clara protected my daughter when my own sister turned into an enemy!
He pointed his finger toward the heavy black double doors at the front of the mansion.
Mark: Get out of my house right now before I have you arrested for child endangerment!
Victoria: You cannot throw me out! I have rights as a family member living here!
Mark: I am a top attorney in this state, Victoria, and I will destroy you in court!
Mark: I will cut off your trust fund allowance and freeze every bank account attached to my name!
Victoria gasped as she realized that her comfortable lifestyle of wealth was vanishing instantly.
She looked around the grand stone walls, knowing that her long scheme had completely failed.
Victoria: You will regret this, Mark! You need me to run this household!
Mark: NO!
His loud voice echoed off the high decorative ceilings, shaking the heavy glass chandelier above.
Mark: I do not need a monster in my home, so leave before I call the police!
Victoria realized there was no escaping her brother's fierce anger and legal power.
She turned on her high heels and stomped down the hallway toward the front entrance doors.
She slammed the heavy double doors shut behind her, leaving the grand mansion forever.