Adrian rolled back Clara's rough cotton sleeve. The dark purple track marks and scar tissue along her forearm were unmistakable.
Adrian: You monsters.
Victoria: It was medical treatment! She had severe postpartum psychosis after the crash!
Adrian: She never had psychosis a single day in her life!
Victoria: You don't know what happened in that car! She drove into the river on purpose!
Clara: You cut my brake line at the downtown parking garage! I saw your black Mercedes parked right behind my minivan before I drove out!
Victoria: That's a filthy lie! You have no proof of anything!
Clara: The parking attendant kept the surveillance tape. I paid him my last fifty dollars two weeks ago to mail the backup drive to the district attorney's office.
Victoria's eyes darted wildly toward the hallway exit. She grabbed the hem of her lace gown and turned to run.
Adrian: Don't you dare run away from this!
Adrian moved across the marble floor in three long strides, cutting her off right before the arched threshold.
Victoria: Get out of my way, Adrian! Let me through!
Adrian: You don't get to walk out of here like a wealthy socialite after ruining my family's life!
Victoria: I am a Sterling! My father donates to the governor's campaign! You can't touch me!
Victoria swung her beaded handbag straight at Adrian's temple. He ducked, grabbed her forearm, and swung her back toward the center of the hall.
Victoria: Let go of me, you lunatic!
Adrian stepped forward, his eyes burning with years of bottled grief and rage, and delivered a sharp hard slap across Victoria's powdered cheek.
The crack echoed like a gunshot through the vaulted dining room. Victoria spun and collapsed hard onto the white marble floor, her tiara snapping in two.
Victoria: You... you hit me! You laid hands on me in front of everyone!
Adrian: That was for the five years you stole from my wife and son.
Victoria: Adrian, please have mercy on me! I did it because I loved you! I loved you since college!
Adrian: You loved the Vance family fortune. You loved the idea of being the first lady of Dallas private equity.
Victoria: Marcus, do something! Call my father! Call the police!
Marcus: Victoria... be quiet. Just stop talking.
Victoria: You coward! You helped me set up the shell corporation that billed the clinic every month!
Marcus slumped back into his leather dining chair, burying his head in his hands as the room watched in absolute horror.
Clara: Where is my baby, Adrian? Please, I just want to hold my boy.
Adrian: I'm bringing him right now, Clara. But first, we take out the garbage.
Adrian reached down, gripped Victoria's wrist with an iron grip, and hauled her upright before dragging her across the slippery stone toward the front foyer.
Victoria: Stop! You're tearing my dress! Adrian, stop!
Adrian: You walked in here thinking you won. You are going straight to federal prison!
Leave a Comment