Aunt Eleanor: Gabriel, you are supposed to announce your marriage contract today! The board of directors is waiting in the parlor!
Gabriel: The marriage contract is canceled.
Victoria: Canceled?! You can't cancel our engagement! My father invested four million dollars into your real estate merger!
Gabriel: Your father's investment was a high-interest loan, Victoria. A loan I paid off in full yesterday morning.
Victoria stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth opening in shock.
Victoria: What... what are you talking about?
Gabriel: Did you think I was blind, Victoria? Did you think I wouldn't notice the way you talk to my staff when you think I'm not looking?
Victoria: I am the future mistress of this estate! Staff need to know their place!
Gabriel: Their place is working with dignity in my home. Your place is outside my gates.
Aunt Eleanor: Gabriel, think about your status! The Sterling family name cannot handle a public scandal right before the corporate merger!
Gabriel: My status is fine, Aunt Eleanor. My morality is what I'm protecting.
Victoria's hands clenched into tight fists at her sides, her fake innocence completely melting away into bitter anger.
Victoria: You're choosing a girl who sweeps marble floors over me?!
Gabriel: I am choosing honor over a cruel bully.
Maya: Mr. Gabriel... please don't fight with your family because of me...
Gabriel: Stay right beside me, Maya. You don't bow your head to anyone in this room.
Gabriel took Maya's arm gently, pulling her behind him as Victoria took two angry steps forward.
Victoria: She tripped on purpose! She spilled that hot soup on my shoes because she's jealous of my ring!
Gabriel: Maya didn't trip, Victoria. I watched you stick your high heel out and kick her ankle while she was carrying the soup tray.
The entire room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence.
Aunt Eleanor turned her head slowly, looking at Victoria with a sharp frown.
Aunt Eleanor: Victoria... is that true? Did you trip her?
Victoria: No! He's lying to protect her!
Gabriel: Look at the ceiling corners, Victoria.
Victoria looked up toward the high archways of the dining room.
Mounted inside the carved gold trim were three small, dark glass domes containing 4K security camera lenses.
Gabriel: This room records every angle in high definition. Do you want me to play the video feed on the parlor TV for the entire board of directors?