Arthur: Say that again, Victoria. Say it to my face.
Victoria: Arthur, please! The floor was slick, you know how the staff waxes the marble every Thursday morning!
Arthur: My mother has lived in this house for forty years, Victoria. She knows every single inch of these stairs.
Victoria: She's old, Arthur! Her balance is failing, you said so yourself last week at dinner!
Lily: No, Daddy! Grandma was holding the railing! I was standing right by the parlor door!
Lily walked over to the bottom of the staircase, her small hand resting on the carved wood post.
Lily: She came up behind Grandma and shoved her back!
Victoria: Shut your mouth, you spoiled little brat!
Victoria's sharp voice cut through the large room, making the maid gasp in horror.
Before Victoria could take another breath, Arthur moved with explosive speed.
His hand swept across the air, delivering a powerful, heavy slap directly across Victoria's cheek.
The sharp impact sounded like a whip cracking across the white marble foyer.
Victoria reeled back, bumping hard against the wooden railing as she clutched her red, stinging face.
Victoria: You... you hit me?
Arthur: GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!
Arthur's command roared through the mansion, shaking the glass chandelier hanging above them.
Victoria: Arthur, you can't be serious! We're getting married in three weeks!
Arthur: The wedding is off. The engagement is over. Get out before I throw you down these stairs myself.
Victoria looked at him in total shock, tears finally breaking through her heavy makeup as her face twisted in terror.
Arthur: Out! Now!
He pointed his finger forcefully toward the massive front exit doors below.
Victoria turned around tearfully, holding her gown up as she stumbled down the steps past the injured old woman.
The heavy oak doors slammed shut behind her, leaving a ringing silence in the bright hallway.
Arthur immediately ran back down the steps, dropping to his knees to gently lift his mother into his arms.
Arthur: Mom, I'm so sorry. I should have seen through her sooner.
Eleanor: My hip... Arthur, it feels broken.
Arthur: Maria! Call the ambulance right now!
The maid scrambled down the stairs, pulling a phone from her apron pocket with trembling fingers.
Maria: Yes, Mr. Sterling! Calling them right now!
Lily: Daddy, is Grandma going to be okay?
Lily knelt down on the other side of Eleanor, wiping a thin trail of sweat from the older woman's forehead.
Arthur: She's strong, sweetheart. She's going to make it through this.
Eleanor: The safe... Arthur... check the safe in the study.
Arthur frowned, looking into his mother's pale, pained face.
Arthur: What do you mean, Mom?
Eleanor: That's why she was upstairs... she had the key in her hand before she shoved me.
Arthur's blood ran cold as he realized Victoria's sudden visit wasn't about planning a wedding at all.
It was about a multi-million dollar estate that she was desperate to control before anyone could stop her.