Lily: Daddy, why are you holding your ear like that?
Arthur: It's okay, sweetheart. Daddy just has a really bad headache today.
Victoria: He is fine, Lily. Now take your dirty toy and go find the nanny.
Lily: You're not going deaf! MEDICINE IS IN YOUR FOOD!
Lily pointed a sharp, tiny finger directly at Victoria, speaking with innocent clarity and absolute determination.
Arthur: What did you just say, Lily?
Victoria: She is just making up silly stories! Kids watch too many cartoons these days.
Lily: I am not making it up! I saw you in the kitchen this morning!
Arthur: Victoria, be quiet for a second. Lily, tell me exactly what you saw.
Victoria: Arthur, you are not going to listen to a seven-year-old over your future wife, are you?
Arthur: I said be quiet! Lily, talk to me. What medicine are you talking about?
Lily: The white powder. She opened a little plastic bag and poured it into your soup bowl.
Victoria's face dropped for a split second, the bright sunlight catching a sudden flash of panic in her eyes before she forced a laugh.
Victoria: Oh, for heaven's sake! That was sugar, you foolish little girl!
Lily: Daddy doesn't put sugar in his chicken soup!
Arthur: No, I certainly do not. I have never eaten sugar in my soup.
Victoria: It was salt! It was fancy sea salt from the new culinary market!
Lily: You stirred it really fast, and then you threw the plastic bag into the trash can under the sink.
Arthur: You threw the bag away? Why wouldn't you put the salt shaker back on the spice rack?
Victoria: Because it was an empty packet! Arthur, this is ridiculous. We have guests staring at us!
Arthur looked around the luxury hall, noticing that several wealthy investors and socialites had stopped talking and were watching them.
Arthur: Thomas! Come here immediately!
The head butler, an older man in a sharp black suit, stepped quickly through the crowd and bowed his head.
Thomas: Yes, Mr. Arthur? How can I assist you?
Arthur: Thomas, I want you to go to the main kitchen right now. Look in the trash can under the sink.
Victoria: Thomas, you will do no such thing! You work for me now!
Thomas: I work for the estate, ma'am. Mr. Arthur pays my salary.
Arthur: Find the plastic bag Lily is talking about, Thomas. Bring it to me immediately.
Victoria: Arthur, you are making a massive fool of yourself in front of my family!
Arthur: If it is just salt, Victoria, then I will apologize to you in front of everyone.
Victoria: I won't stand here and be interrogated in my own mansion!
Arthur: It isn't your mansion yet. The wedding isn't until next month.
Victoria crossed her arms, her silver sequin dress catching the light as she glared down at the little girl holding the bunny.
Victoria: You always hated me, Lily. You just want to ruin my special day.
Lily: I want Daddy to stop feeling sick all the time. He started getting sick right after you moved in.
Arthur froze, his hand still resting near his aching ear as Lily's words hit him like a physical blow to the chest.
Arthur: She's right. My severe migraines and the hearing loss started exactly four weeks ago.