Sarah: Take Lily inside right now, Maria. Dry her up and keep the doors locked.
Maria: Yes, ma'am. I am taking her to her room immediately.
Victoria: You have no right to order people around in this estate, Sarah. You are the ex-wife here.
Sarah: I don't care about your titles, Victoria! You almost killed my daughter today!
Sarah wiped a tear from her face, her chest heaving as she glared at the woman who had replaced her in this mansion just six months ago. Her ex-husband, Richard, had married Victoria after a whirlwind romance that started right after their divorce was finalized.
Victoria: She fell into the water because you don't teach her discipline. It was an accident.
Sarah: An accident? Maria saw you! The security cameras above the patio saw you!
Victoria's eyes flickered toward the corner of the roof, where a small black camera dome was mounted above the glass doors. For a split second, a look of subtle hesitation crossed her face, but she quickly smoothed her expression back into a smug grin.
Victoria: Check the cameras all you want. You think Richard will take your word over mine?
Sarah: Richard loves his daughter. When he sees what you did, you will be out on the street.
Victoria: Oh, Sarah. You are still so naive. Richard isn't the man you think he is anymore.
Sarah: What is that supposed to mean?
Victoria: It means he belongs to me now. His trust fund, his estate, his company... and his loyalty.
Sarah pulled out her smartphone with trembling fingers, quickly dialing her lawyer's number while keeping her eyes locked on Victoria.
Sarah: Hello, Mark? It is Sarah. I need you at the Dallas mansion right away. We have an emergency regarding Lily's safety and custody.
Mark: Sarah? What happened? Is Lily okay?
Sarah: Victoria pushed her into the pool. Maria saved her. I need legal backup immediately and the police dispatched to this address.
Mark: I am on my way with a police escort. Stay calm and do not leave the premises until I arrive.
Victoria: Calling your divorce lawyer already? How predictable. But you are too late, Sarah.
Sarah: Too late for what?
Victoria: Richard signed over full power of attorney to me last week while he was in the hospital for his heart checkup.
Sarah froze, the phone still pressed against her ear. Her heart sank into her stomach as Victoria walked slowly toward her, leaning in close with a cold whisper.
Sarah: Power of attorney? Richard would never do that without consulting his family trust lawyer.
Victoria: He did. Because he trusts me. And once I show him the security footage I edited, you will be the one facing charges for trespassing and assault.
Sarah: You edited the footage?
Victoria: Let us just say technology is very accommodating to those who pay well.
Sarah felt a sudden surge of dread. If Victoria had tampered with the mansion's camera feeds, proving what happened to Lily would become an uphill battle. But Maria had witnessed the entire scene with her own eyes.
Sarah: Maria saw everything. Her testimony will ruin you in court.
Victoria: A simple maid's word against a high-society wife? Good luck getting any judge in Texas to believe her over me.
The distant sound of sirens began to echo through the tree-lined neighborhood. Victoria's smug smile faded slightly, but she quickly adjusted her designer jacket and assumed a dramatic, panicked expression.
Victoria: Oh look, the police are here. Time to play the victim, Sarah.
Sarah: You won't get away with this, Victoria. I swear it.
Victoria: I already have, darling. Just wait until you see what Richard's new will says.
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