Elena stayed on her knees, her shoulders shaking as she wiped away her hot tears.
She looked up into the eyes of the man who owned the entire estate.
She knew that speaking the truth right now could mean losing her job forever.
She also knew that staying silent meant leaving little Leo in constant danger every single day.
Arthur looked at her closely, his voice dropping into a calm but dangerous tone.
Arthur: Elena, tell me what happened here right now.
Elena took a deep, trembling breath, pointing a shaking finger straight up at Victoria.
Elena: She hurts the child every time you leave the house, sir!
Victoria's eyes went wide, her face turning pale before quickly flushing red with furious anger.
She stepped forward, her voice rising to a loud scream that echoed off the high walls.
Victoria: Don't listen to that liar! She knows nothing!
Victoria: She is just a clumsy servant trying to save herself after dropping the boy!
Elena shook her head fast, tears streaming down her bruised cheeks as she defended herself.
Elena: I would never harm little Leo, sir! I have records of everything!
Elena: She only cares about the inheritance and wants him out of the picture!
Arthur stood up slowly, keeping his left arm wrapped securely around his young son.
The room felt suddenly ice cold as Arthur stared down at his wife.
Victoria had always complained about the small size of her monthly allowance.
She had pushed Arthur repeatedly to rewrite his official will to give her full control of the estate.
Now, seeing the bruised maid and his terrified child, all the pieces of the puzzle fit together.
Victoria stepped closer to Arthur, trying to reach out and touch his arm in a soft way.
Victoria: Arthur, you cannot take the word of a hired maid over your legal wife.
Victoria: I have done everything for this family since the day we got married.
Arthur pulled his arm away from her touch, his eyes burning with intense anger.
Arthur: Do not touch me, Victoria.
He looked at the security guards standing near the heavy wooden doors.
Arthur: Lock the front doors and make sure nobody leaves this room.