Julian skidded to a halt between his wife and the trembling young woman huddled on the floor.
His chest heaved under the velvet coat, his fists balling tight enough to turn his knuckles pure white.
Julian: Back away from her, Victoria. Step back right now!
Victoria: Julian, darling, calm down. You don't know what she did.
Julian: I know what my own eyes just saw! You were trying to rip an infant from her arms!
Victoria: She brought a stray child into our home without permission!
Clara: That's not true... Mr. Sterling, please, that isn't how it happened!
Clara pulled the blanket tighter around the infant, her tears splashing down onto the tiny cotton folds.
Julian: Clara, breathe. Just breathe. Nobody is touching you or that baby.
Victoria: You're taking the maid's word over your own wife's?
Julian: I'm taking basic human decency over your cruelty!
Victoria: She broke her employment contract. She brought dirt into this mansion.
Julian: This house belongs to my family trust, Victoria. Not yours.
Victoria's lips thinned into a sharp, cold line.
Victoria: I am your wife. I run this household staff. I decide who stays.
Julian: You don't throw an innocent newborn out into thirty-degree weather!
Clara: She told the security guard to lock the outer gate behind me, sir.
Julian's head snapped around, his dark eyes fixing on Clara's pale face.
Julian: She told Thomas to lock you out?
Clara: Yes, sir. She said if I took one step outside the service door, I could never come back for my things.
Victoria: She was fired! Fired staff do not linger in private estates!
Julian: Shut your mouth, Victoria!
The room went dead silent, except for the tiny hiccuping whimpers of the baby.
Even the grandfather clock in the corner seemed to tick louder against the polished stone walls.
Victoria: You have never raised your voice at me like that. Never.
Julian: Then today is your lucky day. Because I'm just getting started.
Victoria: Over a maid's bastard child? Are you out of your mind?
Julian: Don't you dare call her that!
Julian dropped to one knee beside Clara, his rough palm gently touching the girl's trembling shoulder.
Julian: Are you hurt? Did she put hands on you before I came through that door?
Clara: She grabbed my wrist, sir. She tried to pull Maya away.
Julian: Maya? Her name is Maya?
Clara: Yes, sir. After my mother.
Julian swallowed hard, his throat bobbing as he glanced down at the tiny face peeking out from the fleece.
A strange, hollow silence settled into his eyes for a split second.
Victoria: Look at you, bowing down to the help. Our dinner guests arrive in three hours, Julian.
Julian: Cancel the dinner.
Victoria: I will do no such thing! Senator Hayes and his wife are coming!
Julian: Call the caterers and cancel every single plate.
Victoria: You're ruining our social standing for a scene she created on purpose!
Clara: I didn't want any trouble, Mr. Sterling. I swear I didn't.
Julian: Stand up, Clara. Get up off the floor.
He offered his hand, gripping her wrist carefully as he helped her rise to her feet.
Julian: Sit on the sofa.
Victoria: Not on the silk upholstery! She's filthy!
Julian: Sit down, Clara. Right there.
Clara eased onto the edge of the cream-colored sofa, clutching the baby against her chest like a shield.
Julian turned slowly, his tall frame blocking his wife from taking another step forward.
Julian: Now, Victoria. Tell me why you took her phone away before calling security.
Victoria's eyes flickered toward the marble console table, where Clara's cracked screen phone lay face down.
Victoria: She was filming inside our private quarters. It's an invasion of privacy.
Clara: I was not filming! I was trying to call the clinic!
Julian: Hand me the phone, Victoria.
Victoria: No. This is my house, Julian, and you won't treat me like a criminal.
Julian: I won't ask you a second time.
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