A tall man stepped inside the mansion with quick urgent footsteps.
Richard Sterling wore his tailored beige suit jacket over a dark blue shirt.
He carried his leather briefcase in his right hand after returning from work.
His face turned dark as he took in the strange scene before him.
His young daughter was crying on the floor in the maid's arms.
His new wife was standing over them with an angry raised hand.
Richard dropped his heavy leather briefcase onto the marble floor with a thud.
Richard: What is going on here?
He rushed across the open room toward his weeping small daughter.
Sarah looked up at her boss with fast trembling breath in her chest.
Sarah: She pulled her on the balcony!
Victoria gasped sharply and tried to step backward on the stairs.
Her high heel caught the edge of the smooth marble step behind her.
She tripped and fell backward onto the lower steps with a sharp cry.
The gold satin gown bunched around her legs as she hit the stairs.
Richard ignored his fallen wife completely as he knelt by his child.
He gathered Maya gently into his arms and lifted her up high.
Richard: Maya, I've got you.
The little girl buried her wet face into his warm suit jacket.
Richard: No, you will never touch her again!
He turned his body around to glare down at Victoria on the stairs.
Victoria sat on the cool step holding her bruised left cheek tightly.
Her eyes were wide with genuine terror as she watched her husband.
Victoria: Richard, please listen to me!
She reached one gold ringed hand out toward him in desperate begging.
Victoria: The maid is lying to you!
Richard pointed his finger straight down at his trembling wife's face.
His jaw was clenched tight with furious rage as he stood firm.
Richard: Get out of my house right now!
Victoria: You can't throw me out!
Victoria struggled to stand up in her long tangled satin dress.
Victoria: We are married, Richard!
Richard: That ends today!
Sarah stood up slowly beside her employer while holding her side.
She felt a faint bruise starting to form along her own cheekbone.
She looked at Richard with honest relief in her tired brown eyes.
Sarah: I saw everything, sir.
Sarah: She threatened to hurt her yesterday too.
Victoria stared at Sarah with pure hatred shining in her pale eyes.
Victoria: You quiet little liar!
Richard stepped between Victoria and Sarah to protect them both.
Richard: Leave this house this instant!