The bright daylight poured through the tall arched windows of the Sterling mansion, illuminating the polished white marble floor and the dark wood paneling along the quiet corridor.
Victoria stood near the center of the hall, her arms crossed tight over her sharp blue designer suit as her heels clicked against the stone.
Victoria: DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME WITH YOUR PEASANT HANDS!
She pointed a long, manicured finger aggressively at the floor, where a young maid in a black uniform knelt on the hard marble.
The maid, Sarah, cradled a trembling three-year-old boy tightly against her chest, her body shaking with soft sobs as she looked up.
Sarah: HE IS A MOTHERLESS CHILD! IF YOU WANT TO HIT SOMEONE, HIT ME!
Victoria: Shut your mouth! You are a paid servant in this house, and that brat just ruined my designer dress with his sticky fingers!
Sarah: He's only three years old, Miss Victoria! He was just looking for his father!
Victoria: I don't care what he was doing! When I marry his father next week, both of you are going to be out on the street!
Heavy footsteps echoed down the long corridor as David Sterling, a wealthy real estate developer in a tailored grey suit, walked toward them.
His dark eyes were cold with rage as he took in the scene unfolding before him.
Victoria: DARLING! THIS CRAZY MAID JUST PUSHED YOUR SON!
Victoria gasped dramatically, forcing tears into her eyes as she turned toward David with a delicate, helpless expression.
Victoria: She tripped me on purpose and threw little Timmy to the floor to make me look bad!
David stepped directly into Victoria's personal space, his tall frame looming over her as his face hardened into ice.
David: I WAS STANDING RIGHT BEHIND YOU, VICTORIA. THE WEDDING IS CANCELLED!
Before Victoria could open her mouth to object, David swung his arm back with full force and slapped her hard across the face with a loud, ringing crack.
Victoria stumbled backward into the wood-paneled wall, clutching her stinging, reddened cheek in absolute horror.
Victoria: YOU SLAPPED ME?!
David didn't even give her a second glance as he immediately dropped to his knees beside Sarah on the cold floor.
He placed a gentle, reassuring hand on the maid's trembling shoulder, pulling his young son into his arms.
David: DON'T WORRY, YOU AND MY SON ARE SAFE HERE.
Two broad-shouldered security guards marched down the sunlit hall, taking Victoria firmly by the arms as David helped Sarah stand up, her eyes wide with shock at the truth that was about to break.