The foyer fell dead silent, broken only by the distant roll of thunder shaking the high glass windows.
Charles pulled a black smartphone from his suit pocket, his thumb flicking across the lit glass screen.
Charles: Did you honestly think I didn't care about what goes on in this mansion when I'm away on business?
Evelyn: Charles, what are you talking about? I take care of everything here. I handle the staff, the estate bills, the catering—
Charles: You handle the cruelty. That's what you handle.
Evelyn: How dare you! I married you to build a family! I've been nothing but a devoted mother to your daughter!
Charles: Look at this screen, Evelyn.
Charles stepped forward, holding the phone barely six inches from Evelyn's wide, blinking eyes.
Evelyn: What... what is that?
Charles: It’s the backup security feed. The one wired directly to my private server at the corporate office.
Evelyn: You told me you disconnected the interior cameras when we signed the prenuptial agreement!
Charles: I disconnected the public network. I never disconnected the hidden lenses in the nursery corridor or the balcony arches.
Clara looked up, her breathing slowing down as she wiped the tears from her red cheeks.
Clara: You saw it, Mr. Vance?
Charles: Every single second of it, Clara. I was sitting in the boardroom when the perimeter alert went off on my tablet.
Evelyn: Charles, wait. That footage can be misinterpreted. The wind was blowing, the door must have unlatched itself!
Charles: Unlatched itself? I just watched you unlock the balcony French doors from the inside, deliberately wedge the brass latch open, and walk away downstairs with your drink!
Evelyn: It was hot! I wanted fresh air in the room!
Charles: During a gale warning? With sixty-mile-an-hour gusts? While my six-year-old daughter was playing on the floor ten feet away?
Evelyn: It was an honest mistake! Anyone could forget to check the weather forecast!
Charles: You didn't forget. And you certainly didn't forget what the audio microphones picked up thirty seconds later.
Evelyn swallowed hard, her amber dress rustling as her hands began to shake uncontrollably.
Evelyn: The cameras don't have audio. You're bluffing.
Charles: Would you like me to press play on speaker? Or should we wait for the detectives who are currently driving up our private road?
Lily: Daddy, she said if I fell, you would finally love her more than me.
Charles squeezed Lily tighter, his knuckles turning pure white as his eyes locked onto his wife with cold, merciless hatred.
Charles: Don't you dare touch her. She saved my daughter's life while you stood by and prayed for a tragedy.
Evelyn: Charles, please! That's absurd! I'm your wife! Think of our social circle, our reputation!
Charles: Our reputation died the moment you treated this house like your private hunting ground.
Evelyn: You can't believe a six-year-old and a maid over me! I have an ironclad prenup! I am entitled to half the real estate portfolio!
Charles: You clearly didn't read section fourteen of that document, did you?
Evelyn froze, her red lips parting as the color drained entirely from her face.
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