Victoria marched down the remaining steps with fast, furious strides, her silk dress rustling loudly in the quiet corridor. She had spent seven years building the perfect image of a perfect high-society family, making sure the local newspapers constantly praised her charitable work and noble home life. Seeing Clara back inside her house, holding the child who carried the key to the massive family inheritance, sent a surge of panic and burning rage straight through her veins. She raised her head high, her eyes flashing with dangerous anger as she closed the distance between them.
Victoria: GET AWAY FROM HER!
Before Clara could even stand up or protect herself, Victoria reached out with a furious hand. Her open palm struck Clara hard right across the face, the loud sharp crack echoing through the tall halls like a gunshot. The force of the strike was so sudden and violent that Clara's head snapped back hard to the side, her lips splitting slightly against her teeth as she gasped for breath. She stumbled back onto the polished floor, her hand flying up to cover her hot, throbbing cheek, but her other hand stayed firmly around Lily's waist to protect the little girl from falling.
Victoria: You filthy, ungrateful servant! How dare you step foot inside my home and put your filthy hands on my child!
Clara: She is not just your child, Victoria! You know the truth, and you cannot hide it anymore!
Victoria: Shut your mouth! You are nothing! You signed the papers, you took the money, and you left!
Victoria leaned down aggressively, grabbing Lily by her arm and yanking her forcefully away from Clara's grip. The young girl screamed in terror, kicking her legs and pulling back with all her small strength, trying desperately to hold onto Clara's grey sleeve. But Victoria pulled with hard, unyielding force, snatching the girl up into her arms and holding her tight against her champagne dress while Lily cried loudly, her small hands beating against Victoria's shoulder.
Lily: NO! MOMMY! LET ME GO! I WANT MOMMY!
Victoria: Be quiet, Lily! I am your mother! This woman is nothing but a crazy maid who worked here when you were a baby!
Clara pushed herself up from the floor, ignoring the burning pain on her face and the small drip of blood near her mouth. She stood tall in front of the wealthy woman, her eyes filled with a fierce, unstoppable motherly love that no amount of money could ever intimidate. She knew that Victoria was terrified because the legal court date was approaching, and the stolen birth certificates were finally coming to light. The entire estate, the vast fortune, and the custody of the child belonged to a truth that Victoria had tried to bury four years ago.
Clara: You hit me because you are scared, Victoria. You know the lawsuit is filed, and you know the lawyer has the original records from the hospital!
Victoria: Get out before I call the police and have you thrown into a cold cell for trespass!
Victoria raised her voice to scream for the security guards, but before she could finish her sentence, a loud, heavy footsteps came rushing down the hallway. Richard stepped into the corridor, wearing a crisp black tuxedo for the upcoming gala. His face was stern, his strong jaw set in a tight line, and his eyes were burning with a dark, commanding power that made every servant in the room freeze in place. He had heard the strike, the screaming, and the desperate cries of his little girl from his private study upstairs.