Julian turned slowly to face Clara. The warmth and love that usually filled his eyes when he looked at his wife were completely gone. In their place was a cold, terrifying rage. He looked at the burn marks on his son, then looked at Clara's spotless hands, and finally down at the scorching mark on the carpet visible through the open nursery door behind them.
Julian: The iron fell by accident? On his chest and his cheek at the same time?
Clara: Yes! It was a horrible mistake! She is making up stories to get money from us!
Elena: Go look at the rug in the nursery, Mr. Vance! The iron is still lying on the floor where I knocked it out of her hand! The smoke is still in the room!
Without saying another word, Julian walked past Clara and stepped into the nursery. He saw the hot iron sitting on the scorched rug, the steam still rising slowly into the air. He saw the baby's blanket tossed aside, stained with sweat and tears. The scene left no doubt in his mind about what had really taken place inside his home while he was away working hard for their future.
Julian walked back out into the hallway. His fists were clenched tight at his sides. Clara stepped back, sensing for the first time that her lies were not working. She tried to muster another soft smile, but her lip was trembling with real fear now.
Clara: Julian, please, darling... let's talk about this in private. The servants don't need to see this.
Julian: Get out of my sight.
Clara: What did you say?
Julian: I said get away from my son!
Julian pushed Clara away with sudden, powerful force. Clara screamed as she lost her balance, her feet tangling in the long skirt of her expensive blue dress. She fell backward onto the hard marble floor of the landing, landing with a loud, heavy thud. She looked up at her husband from the floor, her fake elegance completely destroyed, her hair messy and her face twisted in shock.
Clara: You can't treat me like this! I am your wife! I have rights in this house! Half of this estate belongs to me!
Julian: You have nothing! You will never touch a single dollar of my estate or my son's trust fund! You are a monster!
Julian pulled his mobile phone from his coat pocket and dialed three numbers without taking his eyes off the woman lying on the floor. He spoke into the phone with a voice like steel, giving his address and reporting an immediate domestic assault and child abuse crime in progress.
Julian: Officers, come to the Vance estate immediately. Drag this monster away forever!