Nathan knelt quickly on the cold marble floor beside his frightened young daughter.
He wrapped his arm around Lily's trembling shoulders, pulling her tiny frame close to his chest.
Nathan: Are you okay, sweetheart?
Lily: My arm hurts, Daddy.
Nathan looked up at Victoria, his eyes cold and devoid of any previous affection.
Nathan: What did you do to my child?
Victoria: It was an accident, Nathan!
Victoria: She was being disobedient and spilled juice on the white sofa.
Elena pushed herself up from the floor, resting a hand against the hallway wall for balance.
Elena: That is not true, Mr. Miller.
Elena: Lily accidentally dropped a wooden toy, and Mrs. Miller flew into a rage.
Elena: I stepped in front of the child to shield her from the club.
Victoria turned on the maid with a sharp, angry glare that dropped all pretenses.
Victoria: Keep your mouth shut if you want to keep your job!
Nathan: Do not speak to her like that in my house.
Victoria took a step back, realizing how badly she had exposed her true temper.
She squeezed her hands together, forcing a soft, apologetic expression back onto her face.
Victoria: Honey, please calm down so we can talk about this rationally.
Victoria: I was just stressed about the charity auction tonight.
Victoria: I lost my temper for one second, but I would never truly harm anyone.
Nathan stood up slowly to his full height, towering over his frantic wife.
He looked down at the brass golf driver lying silently on the pristine floor.
Nathan: You brought a golf club into the house to discipline a child?
Victoria: I was just trying to scare her into listening to me!
Lily: She yells at us every time you go on business trips, Daddy.
Nathan felt a deep sense of guilt wash over him like an icy wave.
He had spent the last six months traveling across Texas for his commercial real estate development company.
He had trusted Victoria completely, leaving his precious daughter and estate in her hands.
Nathan: Elena, please take Lily up to her bedroom right now.
Elena: Yes, Mr. Miller.
Elena took Lily's hand gently and guided the quiet girl toward the grand staircase.
Lily looked back over her shoulder, her blue eyes wide with residual fear.
Nathan waited until the bedroom door upstairs closed before turning back to Victoria.
Nathan: You are going to pack your bags right now.