Lily buried her tear-stained face into Julian's dark suit jacket and sobbed heavily.
Julian gently checked his daughter's small hands to make sure she was completely unharmed.
He noticed a bright red mark on her wrist where someone had squeezed her roughly.
A cold wave of pure anger surged through Julian's body as his eyes narrowed.
He raised his gaze slowly to look directly at his frantic wife.
Julian: Did you touch my daughter like this, Victoria?
Victoria: Of course not! She dropped the box and caused that mark herself!
Victoria: You know how unstable she has been since her mother passed away!
Julian stood up slowly to his full height, his dark eyes burning with deep fury.
Julian: Stop lying to me, Victoria!
Julian: Maria, tell me exactly what happened before I entered this bathroom.
Maria stepped forward trembling, looking nervously at Victoria's glaring face.
Maria: Sir, Mrs. Victoria came into the study earlier and took the vault key.
Maria: She told little Lily that she was going to clear out her mother's trust fund.
Maria: When Lily tried to hide the key, Mrs. Victoria cornered her and grabbed her.
Victoria gasped sharply and pointed an angry finger at the loyal maid.
Victoria: You worthless liar! You are fired from this house right this second!
Julian: You don't fire anyone in my home, Victoria.
Julian: You are the one who is completely finished here.