Two city police officers walked through the grand double doors, their heavy boots clicking loudly against the polished marble floor.
Officer Davis: Mr. Julian Vance?
Julian: Yes, Officer. Thank you for arriving so quickly.
Officer Davis: We received a direct dispatch regarding felony child abuse and physical battery against a minor.
Julian: The suspect is standing right there in the champagne gold dress.
Victoria shook her head frantically, backing up against the doorframe.
Victoria: Officer, don't listen to this man! This is a private family misunderstanding! The little girl tripped over her own feet!
Mary: That is a blatant lie! I witnessed her throw ice water, slap her face, and kick her while she was on the floor!
Victoria: She's a housekeeper! She's lying to keep her job!
Julian: Officer Davis, look at the ceiling corners of this hall.
Officer Davis looked up, spotting the small, high-definition 4K security domes mounted near the grand chandeliers.
Julian: This entire foyer is monitored by a 24-hour cloud security system with high-fidelity audio recording.
Victoria: What... camera systems in a private foyer?!
Julian: I installed them last month. Chief, pull up the video feed from fifteen minutes ago on the security tablet.
The head security guard tapped his tablet computer, turning the glass screen toward Officer Davis and his partner.
On the high-definition display, the video played in crystal clarity.
Victoria was clearly seen grabbing a water glass, splashing it directly into Lily's face, delivering a heavy slap across the child's cheek, and forcefully kicking her onto the marble floor while shouting insults.
Officer Davis: Good Lord... look at that impact.
Officer Miller: The child was already on her knees when she kicked her.
Officer Davis: Ma'am, step away from the door and place your hands behind your back.
Victoria's jaw dropped as her entire body began to tremble with uncontrollable fear.
Victoria: Officer! Please! It was a momentary loss of control! I am the heiress to Montgomery Holdings!
Officer Davis: I don't care if you're the queen of the country, ma'am. You're under arrest for felony injury to a child, assault, and battery.
Officer Miller stepped forward, grabbing Victoria's wrists, pulling them behind her back, and clicking steel handcuffs around them.
Victoria: AHH! The metal is too tight! You're hurting my wrists!
Officer Miller: You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
Victoria: Julian! Tell them to stop! My father will pay you millions! Please don't let them take me to jail!
Julian: You should have thought about jail before you laid your hands on my daughter.
Victoria screamed and kicked as the police officers dragged her backward out through the grand double doors.
Her gold gown dragged in the dirt on the outdoor steps as she was pushed into the back of the patrol car.
Victoria: JULIAN! YOU'LL REGRET THIS! MY FATHER WILL DESTROY YOU!
The patrol car doors slammed shut, cutting off her screeching voice completely as the red and blue lights flashed away down the driveway.