Ethan Sterling walked into the foyer holding his leather briefcase, fresh off his private jet from a business meeting in Chicago. He was dressed in a custom navy-blue velvet tuxedo, looking every bit the powerful real estate CEO that he was. He had returned three hours early to surprise his new wife and check on his motherless baby boy. But the moment he stepped inside, the sound of wild sobbing and screaming told him something was horribly wrong.
He tossed his briefcase onto the entryway table and strode into the living room, his heavy shoes clicking sharply on the polished marble. His dark eyes swept over the room, taking in the chaotic scene under the large flag hanging on the main wall.
Victoria was on her knees near the table, holding her face and crying loud, fake tears. Martha stood near the sofa, holding little Leo closely, her face set in a look of fierce determination.
Ethan: What is going on in my house right now?
Victoria immediately threw herself toward Ethan, scrambling across the floor in her expensive dress and grabbing at his suit trousers with trembling hands.
Victoria: Ethan! Oh thank God you are home! She went crazy! Martha attacked me! She slapped me twice and tried to steal Leo!
Ethan looked down at his wife, his brows pulled together in confusion. He had always known Martha to be a quiet, extremely gentle woman who had cared for his late mother for years before helping with his infant son. He looked up at Martha, his voice calm but firm with growing suspicion.
Ethan: Martha, explain yourself right now. Did you put your hands on my wife?
Martha did not back down. She walked forward two steps, holding the crying baby out slightly so Ethan could see his right arm clearly in the bright daylight filling the room.
Martha: Sir, look at your baby's hand! Look at it right now! She savagely bit him and made him bleed because he would not stop crying!
Ethan stopped cold. He looked down at his son's tiny hand. The clear, unmistakable ring of human teeth marks was carved deep into the soft pink flesh, turning purplish red and bleeding onto the child's white clothing. Little Leo let out another shaky gasp, holding his hurt hand against his chest.
Ethan: What... what is this?
Victoria: She is lying, Ethan! I was trying to comfort him! He scratched himself on my ring! She made those marks to frame me!
Martha: Look at her mouth, Mr. Sterling! She still has your baby's blood on her lip!
Ethan leaned down slightly and looked straight into Victoria's eyes. The fake tears on her cheeks could not hide the thin trace of faint red smudge on her lower lip. A wave of ice and fire washed through Ethan's chest, shattering his calm composure completely.
Ethan: You... you bit my son?
Victoria: No! Ethan, listen to me, I am your wife! You cannot believe a common servant over me!
Ethan: Answer me! Did you put your teeth on my child?!
Victoria hesitated for half a second, her eyes darting toward the door as she tried to construct another lie. But that small delay was all the answer Ethan needed to see the horrific truth clearly.