Brandon: What did you say, Mom?
Margaret: My engagement ring... she pulled it off my finger... before she pushed me...
Brandon turned around slowly, his eyes fixing on Vanessa with lethal intensity.
Brandon: Show me your hands, Vanessa.
Vanessa: What? No! She's delusional from the head injury!
Brandon: SHOW ME YOUR HANDS!
Vanessa pulled her hands behind her back, taking two steps up the staircase.
Vanessa: I don't have to listen to this madness! I'm going to our room!
Brandon bounded up the stairs, grabbing Vanessa's wrist before she could turn the corner toward the master bedroom.
Vanessa: Let go of me! You're hurting my arm!
Brandon: Open your hand!
He forced her fingers open. Clenched inside her right palm was a five-carat vintage diamond ring, coated with a light smear of fresh blood.
Brandon: You took my grandmother's heirloom ring off my mother's hand while she was dying on the floor?
Vanessa: It belonged to the estate! I had a right to it!
Brandon: You monstrous, evil woman!
Brandon yanked the ring from her grasp and slapped her hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed through the cavernous foyer, and Vanessa stumbled back against the wall, clutching her cheek in complete shock.
Vanessa: You struck me! You hit your own wife!
Brandon: You are not my wife. You are a criminal, and you're going to prison for the rest of your life.
The front door burst open as three paramedics carrying heavy medical gear rushed into the house, followed closely by two armed Dallas police officers.
Paramedic: Clear the area! Where is the patient?
Brandon: Down here! She was pushed down the stairs! She hit her head hard on the marble!
Officer Davis: Sir, stay back and let the medics work. Who pushed her?
Brandon pointed up the stairs at Vanessa, who was trembling against the wall, tears ruining her heavy mascara.
Brandon: Her. My wife, Vanessa. She pushed my mother down the stairs to steal her estate documents and jewelry.
Vanessa: Officer, he's lying! It was an accident! He just assaulted me! Look at my face!
Lily: She pushed Grandma, Officer! I saw it with my own eyes!
Officer Davis: Ma'am, come down the stairs slowly with your hands where we can see them.
Vanessa: You can't arrest me! I have rights! I demand to call my attorney!
Officer Davis: You'll get your call at the precinct. Step down now!
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