The silence in the room stretched so long that the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner sounded like hammer strikes.
Victoria: You think you are so untouchable, don't you, Richard?
Richard: Ring. Right now.
Victoria let out a cold, sharp laugh that sounded completely different from the sweet voice she used at dinner parties.
Victoria: You arrogant, self-righteous jerk! You think any woman actually loves you for who you are?
Lily: Daddy is a good man!
Victoria: Shut up, you little brat! Nobody asked you!
Richard's arm shot out, his voice dropping into a low, terrifying growl that froze Victoria where she stood.
Richard: Raise your voice at my daughter one more time and see what happens to you.
Victoria: What are you going to do? Hit me? In front of your high-priced corporate lawyer?
Elena: Richard doesn't need to touch you, Victoria. The state prosecutor has already reviewed the preliminary fraud dossier.
Victoria: What prosecutor? You are bluffing! You haven't filed anything!
Elena: Assistant District Attorney Miller has been reviewing your offshore wire transfers since eight o'clock this morning.
Victoria's eyes darted toward the front door, measuring the distance across the marble hall.
Victoria: You set me up. The whole party was a trap.
Richard: No. Today was supposed to be my daughter's tenth birthday party. A peaceful, happy afternoon with her friends.
Victoria: Then why was Elena hiding in the security office?
Richard: Because Elena called me thirty minutes before the cake was delivered to tell me our safe was empty.
Victoria: I didn't steal anything! That jewelry was meant to be passed down through the marriage!
Elena: You had an appraisal certificate forged yesterday morning at a downtown pawn broker. We have the jeweler's sworn statement.
Victoria: That jeweler is an extortionist! He lied to you!
Elena: He gave us the serial numbers from your driver's license. Along with the security camera stills of you handing him Sarah's diamond ring.
Victoria slowly pulled the three-carat engagement ring off her left finger and threw it violently across the floor.
The heavy platinum band bounced against the marble tiles, rolling straight through the pink frosting before stopping against Richard's shoe.
Victoria: Take your stupid ring! Take all of it! I don't care about your dead wife's dusty junk anyway!
Richard: You dared to lay a hand on my child, and now you insult Sarah in her own house?
Victoria: This house is a museum for a dead woman! You made me live in her shadow for six months!
Richard: You chose to come here for the money. Nobody forced you to sign that prenup.
Victoria: The prenup that left me with pennies? Ten million dollars is nothing compared to your corporate empire!
Elena: Ten million dollars was conditional on ten years of fidelity and zero criminal activity. You violated both clauses in under half a year.
Victoria sneered, turning her gaze toward Lily, who was still clinging tightly to Richard's jacket.
Victoria: She was never going to respect me anyway. Look at her! A spoiled, needy little orphan who whines every time she doesn't get her way!
Richard: Say one more word about my daughter.
Victoria: She is weak, Richard! Just like her mother was!
Richard did not wait another second. He stepped across the smashed cake, grabbed Victoria firmly by her upper arm, and pulled her away from the piano.
Victoria: Let go of me! Get your hands off me!
Richard: You are leaving this house right now. On your feet, or I will drag you across this floor myself.
Victoria struggled against his grip, her designer magenta dress ripping slightly at the shoulder seam as Richard marched her straight toward the wide foyer entrance.
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