The high-key, brightly lit luxury dining room was silent except for the harsh echo of shouting.
Sunlight poured through the massive sunlit arch windows, reflecting off the polished marble floor and glittering against the grand crystal chandelier above.
Victoria: YOU HAD ONE JOB!
Victoria stood in her pure white dress, her face red with anger as she glared down at the floor.
Kneeling on the marble tiles was Maya, a young maid dressed in a black-and-white uniform.
Hot, orange soup was stained all over Maya's white apron and her trembling hands.
Maya: I'M SO SORRY, MA'AM!
Maya sobbed uncontrollably, her tears mixing with the greasy soup dripping down her face.
Victoria: You clumsy little trash! Look at what you did to my dining room!
Maya: It was an accident, I swear! Someone bumped into me!
Victoria: Do not talk back to me! You ruined our special family lunch!
At the head of the dining table sat Gabriel, dressed in a sharp dark tuxedo.
He was holding a small black velvet ring box in his hand, his thumb resting over the band.
His jaw tightened, his expression growing icy cold as he watched the woman he was supposed to propose to.
Gabriel: THIS IS NOT THE WOMAN I AM MARRYING.
Victoria froze, her head snapping toward him in disbelief.
Victoria: GABRIEL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
She gasped in total shock, covering her mouth with her hand as her eyes went wide.
Gabriel stood up abruptly from his chair, his chair scraping loudly against the marble.
He grabbed a heavy ceramic plate covered in hot soup and food straight from the table.
Without saying another word, he smashed the plate directly into Victoria's face.
The plate crashed into pieces, orange soup and food splattering all over her hair, face, and pure white gown.
Victoria screamed in horror, backing away while wiping the greasy liquid from her eyes.
Gabriel: GET OUT OF MY HOUSE THIS INSTANT!
Gabriel stood tall and commanding, pointing a fierce, firm finger toward the grand open doors.
Victoria turned in utter humiliation, her heels clicking rapidly against the stone as she fled the room.
Gabriel turned around, looking down sternly at Maya, who was still weeping on the floor.
He reached down with a gentle, protective hand, helping her stand up from the hard ground.
Gabriel: YOU ARE SAFE NOW. ARE YOU OKAY?
Maya wiped her tears, looking up at him with sudden relief, but the true reason Gabriel defended her was about to shatter everything Victoria thought she knew about this mansion.