The heavy front doors of the estate swung open, and three uniformed police officers stepped into the sunlit marble foyer.
Leading them was Chief Miller, a stern man in his fifties with a sharp gaze.
Chief Miller: David? We got the emergency dispatch and received the video file you sent.
David: Thank you for coming so quickly, Chief.
Chief Miller: Is this the child from the footage?
David: Yes. This is Lily. She has multiple lacerations and severe bruising on her left arm and face.
Chief Miller looked down at the little girl, his face hardening as he saw the blood drying on her skin.
Chief Miller: Paramedics are right behind us. They'll examine her in the driveway.
David: Thank you, Chief.
Chief Miller: Officers, secure Mrs. Vance immediately.
The two officers moved quickly across the marble floor toward Evelyn.
Evelyn: Get your hands off me! Do you know who I am?! I'm Evelyn Vance!
Officer 1: Ma'am, you are under arrest for felony injury to a child and domestic reckless endangerment.
Evelyn: It was an accident! She tripped! You can't prove I pushed her!
Chief Miller: Ma'am, I watched the 4K video on my tablet in the patrol car. You walked up behind the girl and shoved her directly into a thorn hedge.
The crowd of older family guests who had been standing near the dining area gasped in collective shock.
Guest 1: My goodness... she actually pushed the poor child?
Guest 2: I can't believe we were drinking wine with a monster like her!
Evelyn: Shut up! All of you, shut up!
The officer clicked the metal handcuffs around Evelyn's wrists, forcing her hands behind her pink satin shirt.
Evelyn: Richard! Tell them to stop! Call Arthur Sterling! Call our defense attorney!
Richard: Arthur Sterling represents the Vance Family Trust, Evelyn. And as of right now, you are no longer affiliated with this trust.
Evelyn: You traitor! You weak, pathetic fool!
Richard: The only fool here was me, for letting you step into my home and poison my family.
The officers turned Evelyn around and began marching her toward the door.
As she passed David and Lily, she spat on the ground, her face twisted in rage.
Evelyn: You won't get a single dime from me, David! I'll drain every account before you see a penny!
Chief Miller: Keep moving, ma'am. You're going straight to the county jail, and bail will be contested.
Evelyn was led out into the bright afternoon sun, her shrill screams fading as the heavy front doors clicked shut behind her.