Richard stood up abruptly while cradling Julian securely against his chest, his eyes burning with a cold, unforgiving intensity that made Selena take an involuntary step backward. The tension in the grand foyer reached a suffocating peak as the CEO glared down at the woman he had trusted with his estate, his heart hardening into stone. Selena tried to smooth down the front of her black leather dress, her expression flickering between feigned innocence and rising panic as she realized her elaborate manipulation had completely backfired. Without a single word of warning, Richard thrust his free arm forward with explosive force, violently shoving Selena backward across the slick marble floor. The sudden impact caught her entirely off guard, her high boots slipping on the glossy surface as she tumbled hard onto the cold stone with a sharp gasp of disbelief.
Selena: No! How dare you lay your hands on me! I am your wife!
Richard: You are nothing. You are a fraud who manipulated her way into my estate and my trust fund!
Selena scrambled against the floor, clutching her bruised arm as she stared up at her husband with wild, panicked eyes.
Selena: Richard, think about what you're doing! The prenup, the corporate board—you can't just throw me out like common trash!
Richard: Watch me. My legal team will strip away every single asset and privilege you ever scammed your way into.
Julian buried his face into his father's shoulder, his quiet crying echoing softly against the high vaulted ceilings of the foyer.
Clara: Mr. Sterling, should I call the security guards to escort her off the property?
Richard: Not just security, Clara. Call the local police precinct and report an assault on a minor.