The afternoon sun glared off the polished stone patio of the sprawling lakefront estate as a sudden metallic crash echoed down the hillside.
Adrian turned around in pure horror just in time to see his infant daughter's stroller rolling uncontrollably toward the jagged rocky embankment.
Adrian: Lily! No!
Before Adrian could even take a step, Claire lunged forward, throwing herself across the gravel path and grabbing the rear wheel inches from the sharp drop.
Claire: I have her! I have her! She is safe!
The baby wailed from inside the canopy, startled by the sudden jerk of the safety brakes locking into place.
Adrian sprinted across the lawn, his chest heaving as his older sister, Victoria, came rushing out from the glass patio doors, screaming at the top of her lungs.
Victoria: Adrian! She pushed the stroller! I saw her shove it with both hands!
Claire: What? No! Adrian, I was saving her! The brake slipped on the gravel!
Victoria: She is lying to you, Adrian! She was looking at her phone, and when Lily started crying, she deliberately gave the carriage a shove!
Adrian: Get your hands off that carriage, Claire! Stay away from my daughter!
Adrian snatched seven-month-old Lily into his arms, trembling with raw fury as he pulled his coat around the infant.
Claire: Adrian, please listen to me! I have worked for you for two years! I would never hurt Lily!
Victoria: She was jealous because I told you this morning she was skimming money from the household grocery budget!
Claire: That is an absolute lie! Victoria, why are you doing this?
Adrian: Shut up, Claire! Pack your things and get off my estate before I call the police and have you arrested for attempted murder!
Claire: Adrian, look at my knees! I scraped them down to the bone diving to catch the wheel!
Victoria: She did that for drama, Adrian! She staged the whole rescue so you wouldn't fire her for stealing!
Adrian: You have ten minutes to clear out your room, Claire. Don't you dare come back near this family.
Two security guards stepped forward onto the gravel path, reaching out to grab Claire's trembling arms as tears streamed down her dusty face.
Suddenly, the heavy patio door banged open against the wall, and sixteen-year-old Leo sprinted down the concrete steps waving his smartphone in the air.
Leo: Dad, stop! Stop right now! Watch this!
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