Julian turned away from the entrance doors, his chest heaving as he rushed back across the white marble floor.
He dropped to his knees beside his daughter, his hands shaking as he lifted her gently off the cold stone.
Julian: Lily! Oh God, Lily, look at me! Are you hurt, baby?
Lily: Daddy... my cheek hurts so bad... the lady hit me...
Julian: I know, sweetie. I saw it. Daddy is right here. You're safe now.
Julian pulled his pocket handkerchief and gently wiped the cold water from her tear-stained face.
The bright red outline of a handprint was swelling across her small, pale cheek.
Lily: She threw water on Mr. Bear too, Daddy... she said we were trash...
Julian: You are not trash, Lily. You are my daughter, the lady of this house.
Victoria: JULIAN! HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME!
Victoria stood at the open front entrance, clutching her torn gold gown, her hair disheveled and her face flushed with fury.
Victoria: You threw me out onto the steps in front of the gate guards!
Julian: If you take one more step inside this hall, Victoria, I will have security arrest you for assault.
Victoria: Assault?! She's a street child who snuck past the estate gates!
Julian: She didn't sneak anywhere! She lives here!
Victoria: What are you talking about?! She's dressed in cheap clothes!
Julian: She is my daughter, Victoria!
Victoria froze in the doorway, her breath catching in her throat as her jaw dropped in absolute horror.
Victoria: Your... your daughter?
Julian: Yes, my daughter! Lily Vance! My late wife's only child!
Victoria: But... you never told me you had a child!
Julian: Because I kept her at my mother's estate to protect her from greedy socialites like you!
Lily buried her small face into Julian's blue suit jacket, sobbing quietly as her body trembled.
Lily: Daddy, she kicked me... she told me security was going to throw me away...
Julian: Nobody is throwing you away, Lily. Ever.
Julian stood up slowly, holding Lily securely in his left arm while staring at Victoria with cold, deadly eyes.
Julian: You came to my mansion today for a private dinner meeting to discuss our corporate merger.
Victoria: Julian, please! I had no idea she was your daughter!
Julian: So if she wasn't my daughter, it would have been acceptable to slap her and kick her on the floor?!
Victoria: No! I mean... she was standing near my vintage handbag! I thought she was trying to steal my gold mirror!
Lily: I wasn't stealing, Daddy... I just dropped my teddy bear near her chair...
Julian: I know, baby. You don't have to explain anything to her.
Victoria: Julian, listen to me! Our families have a multi-million-dollar real estate contract signed for next month!
Julian: That contract is canceled. Effective five seconds ago.