The anger that exploded inside Ethan Sterling was unlike anything he had ever felt in his life. The cool, calculated businessman vanished, replaced by a father whose helpless infant had just been tortured by the woman he trusted. He grabbed Victoria by her lace collar and pulled her up off the floor until she was standing on her feet.
Ethan: YOU BIT MY BABY?! YOU ARE DEAD TO THIS FAMILY!
With a roar of pure rage, Ethan swung his open hand and struck Victoria hard across the face. The sound echoed off the high ceilings like thunder. Victoria let out a sharp shriek as her head snapped to the side.
Before she could regain her balance, Ethan struck her again with a backhand, knocking her sideways. She stumbled backward into the center of the room, her diamond gown tearing along the seam as she lost her balance completely.
Victoria: Ethan, stop! Please! I was stressed! I did not mean to hurt him!
Ethan: You are a monster! You came into my house, took my money, and hurt my flesh and blood!
He stepped forward and delivered a third powerful slap that sent Victoria crashing hard onto the cold marble floor. She lay there on her side under the shadow of the framed American flag, clutching her burning, swollen face as her perfect hair fell into complete disarray around her shoulders.
Martha stepped back slightly, keeping Leo safely wrapped in her arms, covering the baby's ears so he would not be frightened by his father's shouting. Ethan stood over his fallen wife, his chest heaving up and down as his knuckles trembled with rage.
Victoria: You hit me... you ruined my face... I will take half your empire in the divorce lawyer court! I will take everything you own!
Ethan: You will not get a single dime from my trust fund or my estate. You are going away where you can never harm another living soul.
Victoria: You have no proof! It is your word against mine!
Ethan: Look around you, Victoria. Look up at the high corners of this room.
Victoria slowly raised her eyes to the ceiling edges. Mounted discreetly near the crown molding were four high-definition security cameras, their tiny red recording lights blinking steadily under the bright room lights.
Ethan: Every angle of this room is recorded in high definition and saved to a cloud server that my legal team controls. I have your act of violence recorded from start to finish.
Victoria's face turned completely white. The anger in her eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, suffocating terror as she realized the full weight of what she had done.