The siren lights from two police cruisers flashed across the modern glass facade of the villa, casting blue and red reflections across the shattered floor frame.
Inside the master bedroom, paramedics were checking Claire's vital signs while Mark stood right beside her, holding her hand tight.
Paramedic: Her blood pressure is dangerously high, Mr. Sterling. The stress caused minor contractions, but the baby's heart rate is stable for now.
Mark: Thank God. Should we transport her to the hospital?
Paramedic: Yes, we need to monitor her overnight in the maternity ward just to be safe.
Claire: Mark... don't leave my side. Please.
Mark: I'm going right with you in the ambulance, sweetheart. I promise.
Two police officers stepped into the doorway of the bedroom, led by Detective Vance, a stern man with graying hair.
Detective Vance: Mr. Sterling? We need to speak with you regarding the incident downstairs.
Mark: Detective, my mother assaulted my wife. The entire attack was recorded on our home security system.
Detective Vance: Your mother claims she was defending herself after your wife attacked her regarding a family dispute over property.
Claire opened her eyes, her voice trembling with indignation.
Claire: That is a complete lie! She slapped me as soon as I opened the door!
Maria: I witnessed the whole thing, Officer. Mrs. Evelyn Sterling shoved Claire onto the glass floor and intentionally struck the frame with her heavy cane to break it under her.
Detective Vance: Where is the security footage saved, Mr. Sterling?
Mark: On my tablet right here. I already pulled the cloud backup.
Mark handed his tablet to the detective. The officer pressed play, watching in silence as the high-definition video played out on the screen.
On the tape, Evelyn's face was twisted in rage as she struck Claire across the face, shoved her down, and violently slammed her heavy cane into the glass floor until cracks spiderwebbed outward.
Detective Vance: Well, that pretty much clears up who the aggressor was. This is clear assault with a deadly weapon and reckless endangerment of a pregnant woman.
Mark: Where is she now?
Detective Vance: She's sitting in the kitchen downstairs with her defense lawyer, insisting we have no grounds to arrest her.
Mark: Show her the video, Detective. Then put the handcuffs on her.
Downstairs in the kitchen, Evelyn sat at the marble island, sipping a glass of iced water while a sharply dressed man in a grey suit spoke quietly into his phone.
Lawyer: Don't worry, Evelyn. I'm already filing an injunction. They can't prove intent without physical evidence of structural damage prior to the fall.
Evelyn: My son is just throwing a temper tantrum, Arthur. He will come to his senses once he realizes his credit cards won't work tomorrow morning.
Detective Vance walked down the grand stairs, holding the tablet in his left hand and a pair of steel handcuffs in his right.
Detective Vance: Mrs. Sterling, please stand up and put your hands behind your back.
Lawyer: Hold on a second, Officer! My client is a respected philanthropist and the head of Sterling Enterprises! You cannot arrest her based on the word of a disgruntled maid!
Detective Vance: I'm not arresting her based on the maid's word, counsellor. I'm arresting her based on crystal-clear 4K video showing her trying to drop a pregnant woman through a glass floor.
Evelyn stood up, her glass of water rattling against the countertop.
Evelyn: Arthur! Do something!
Lawyer: Officer Vance, can we discuss a bail arrangement before you make a public scene?
Detective Vance: She can discuss bail with the magistrate judge tomorrow morning. Turn around, Mrs. Sterling.
The metal handcuffs clicked loudly over Evelyn's wrists. Her face flushed a deep crimson as the officers guided her out the front doors, right past the shattered glass floor in the living room.