Veronica’s face drained of all color the exact second the words "security footage" left my mouth. Her arrogant expression completely collapsed into utter panic as her eyes darted toward the high-definition security camera mounted directly under the roof overhang.
Veronica: You... you have cameras out here?
Mark: Four high-definition angles covering every single inch of this backyard, recording in forty-k resolution with live audio capture!
Veronica: Mark, wait... let's talk about this like adults. You don't need to involve the police!
Mark: Get off my deck before I physically drag you to the curb!
Veronica: I have nowhere to go, Mark! My apartment was foreclosed on last week! My bank account is completely overdrawn!
Mark: That is not my problem anymore! You put my child in physical danger for a paycheck!
Veronica scrambled up from the floor, clutching her bruised hip. She tried to step toward the house entrance, but I placed my body directly in front of the door, blocking her path entirely.
Veronica: I just need to get my suitcase from the guest bedroom!
Mark: You stay right here on the lawn. I will throw your bags out to the driveway myself.
Veronica: Please, Mark! Don't do this to me! I'm your only living sibling!
Mark: You stopped being my sister the second you put your hands on Lily.
I opened the sliding glass door just wide enough to slip inside, locking it instantly behind me. Lily was standing near the hallway, holding her favorite stuffed animal, still trembling slightly.
Lily: Is Aunt Veronica gone?
Mark: She’s leaving right now, sweetie. She will never come back here again.
Lily: Why was she so mad about Mom’s picture on the fireplace?
Mark: Because she’s a bitter person, Lily. But Daddy is going to protect you no matter what.
I walked briskly down the hallway to the guest bedroom. I grabbed Veronica’s two expensive designer suitcases—items she bought while claiming she was completely broke—and tossed her clothes inside carelessly. I zipped them shut and marched straight to the front door.
I pulled my smartphone from my wet pocket, opened the security app interface, and downloaded the last fifteen minutes of high-definition video footage. The angle from the roof eaves showed everything clearly: Veronica grabbing Lily by the shoulder and deliberately shoving her backward into the deep end of the pool.
Mark: Unbelievable... it’s clear as day.
My phone vibrated in my hand. It was an incoming call from our family estate lawyer, Richard Vance.
Mark: Richard, I’m glad you called back so quickly.
Richard: Mark, I just received an urgent email from Veronica’s legal council claiming you are withholding her rightful portion of your mother’s trust fund and threatening her physical safety.
Mark: She just attempted to drown my seven-year-old daughter in my pool, Richard. I have the entire incident recorded on four high-definition security cameras with crystal clear audio.
Richard: ...What did you just say?
Mark: She pushed Lily into six feet of water while interrogation her about the life insurance payout. I have the digital file ready to send to your office and the local precinct right now.
Richard: Do not delete that video file under any circumstances, Mark. Send it to my secure server immediately. I am filing a restraining order and notifying the district attorney's office right now.
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