The front doors swung open as Chief Miller and two armed deputies stepped into the grand hall.
Chief Miller: David! What’s going on? Where is the baby?
David: The baby is safe in the kitchen under Elena’s care, Chief. But this woman just attempted to murder him.
Victoria: Officer, that’s an outrageous lie! My husband is having a manic episode and attacking me!
Chief Miller: Ma'am, step back against the wall and keep your hands where we can see them.
Victoria: Do you know who my father is?! He sits on the state supreme court committee!
David: Chief, come look at the screen. I’ve already backed the raw file up to the estate cloud server.
Chief Miller walked over to the smart panel, watching the four-minute recording as David replayed the high-angle shot.
The seasoned police chief’s eyes narrowed into slits as he watched the woman deliberately release the child over the railing.
Chief Miller: Sweet Jesus in heaven...
Victoria: It was an accident! I lost my balance!
Chief Miller: You didn't lose your balance, lady. You checked both sides of the corridor, pushed the bundle forward, and pulled your hands back clean.
Chief Miller signaled to the two deputies behind him.
Chief Miller: Cuff her. Attempted second-degree murder, child endangerment, and filing a false police report.
Deputy: Turn around, ma'am. Put your hands behind your back.
Victoria: Don't touch me! Get your filthy hands off my coat!
The deputy snapped the steel handcuffs around Victoria’s wrists with a loud, satisfying click.
Victoria: David! Tell them to stop! You can’t let them lock me in a cage with criminals!
David: That is exactly where you belong.
Victoria: I’ll sue you for every penny in your trust fund! I’ll drag Sarah’s name through every tabloid in New York!
David: You won't get a single dime. My lawyers will have your bail denied by midnight, and your father won't risk his career to save a child killer.
As the deputies dragged Victoria toward the open front door, she kicked and screamed like a wild animal, her expensive makeup smeared with sweat and fury.
The foyer finally fell silent as the police car doors slammed shut in the driveway.
David let out a long, ragged breath, pressing both hands against his temples as he leaned back against the polished banister.
Elena: Mr. Vance? Are you alright?
Elena stood near the archway, holding little Liam wrapped safely in a clean fleece blanket.
Chloe stood beside her, holding the maid’s apron with small, protective fingers.
David: No, Elena. I’m not alright. I almost had you thrown into prison because I was too blind to see the monster sleeping in my house.
Elena: You were terrified for your son, sir. Any parent would have panicked.
David: That doesn't excuse how quickly I pointed the finger at you. You have been loyal to my family for years.
David walked across the room, kneeling down to look his daughter Chloe in the eyes.
David: Chloe... you saved your brother's life. And you saved Elena.
Chloe: I didn't want Elena to go away, Dad. She’s the only one who reads to me the way Mom did.
A solitary tear escaped David's eye as he pulled Chloe into a fierce, protective hug.
David: Nobody is taking Elena away. Ever again.
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