By the next morning, the mansion was dead silent. The sun shone brightly through the tall arched windows, casting long light patterns across the polished floors, but the warm sunlight could not hide the cold anger hanging over the home. Victoria sat at the long mahogany dining table in her silk robe, sipping black coffee while reading emails on her tablet. She acted as if nothing major had happened the night before, convinced that Richard would cool down and return to business as usual. However, heavy footsteps sounded from the hallway as Richard entered the room. He was not dressed in his usual expensive business suit. Instead, he wore plain clothes and carried a thick manila folder under his arm. Behind him walked Arthur Pendelton, the family’s longtime lawyer, who looked serious and grim.
Victoria: Good morning, Richard. I hope you are ready to fire that useless maid today after the disaster she caused last night.
Richard: Sit down, Victoria. We have serious business to handle right now.
Victoria: What is this about? I have an appointment at the spa in an hour.
Arthur: Mrs. Sterling, please take a seat. I am here on behalf of Mr. Sterling regarding your marriage contract and the family trust fund.
Victoria slowly set her coffee cup down, her brow furrowing with sudden suspicion. She looked from the lawyer to her husband, who remained standing near the head of the table with his hands resting flat on the dark wood. Arthur opened the thick manila folder and pulled out several legal documents stamped with official court seals. He slid the first document across the polished table toward Victoria. She looked down at the header line and felt her stomach drop instantly. The bold black letters at the top of the paper read prenuptial agreement amendment and legal separation petition. Victoria stared at the words, her breath catching in her throat as her calm face quickly turned pale.
Victoria: What is the meaning of this joke, Richard? You cannot be serious!
Richard: It is no joke. I signed the divorce petition ten minutes ago in my study.
Victoria: Divorce? Over a stupid maid? I am your wife! You cannot throw away our marriage over a simple misunderstanding!
Arthur: Mrs. Sterling, according to clause nine of your signed prenuptial agreement, any documented act of physical cruelty or abuse against family members or household staff results in an immediate forfeiture of all spousal support and trust access.
Victoria’s jaw dropped open as she remembered the small fine print she had signed six months before their big wedding. She had paid no attention to those small legal details back then, assuming she would easily control Richard and his vast fortune forever. She leaned forward, resting her palms on the table while staring at her husband with wild, angry eyes. She realized that the camera system in the main hall had recorded every single second of her striking Hannah and yanking Leo forcefully across the room. That video footage was already saved on a flash drive inside Arthur’s briefcase, ready to be presented to a family court judge. Victoria felt the walls of her comfortable, luxurious world closing in on her very fast.
Victoria: You trapped me! You planned this whole thing to kick me out!
Richard: You trapped yourself the moment you laid your hand on a defenseless woman and frightened my son.
Arthur: You have forty-eight hours to pack your personal belongings and leave the property, Mrs. Sterling. Otherwise, security will escort you out.