David scrolled back through the recorded video files from the past two weeks with a steady, cold focus. His heart broke with every new video clip that buffered on his phone screen. The camera history showed a dark pattern of behavior that had been hidden from him while he was away working long hours at the corporate office.
There were multiple recordings of Chloe screaming directly into the terrified child's face over minor mistakes. In one clip from last Tuesday, she shoved Leo roughly onto his bed when he refused to finish his dinner. In another video from Friday, she pulled his hair while pulling him out of the living room car play area.
David: You lied to me every single day... You told me he was falling at school and getting clumsy!
Chloe: I was overwhelmed, David! You are always working at your firm and leaving me here alone with him!
Evelyn: That is no excuse to harm a child! I offered to stay here and help you every week, but you always told me to stay away!
David: She told you to stay away because she was hiding what she was doing to our son!
Leo looked up from his grandmother's sweater, seeing his father's eye fill with tears of pure guilt and sadness. David walked over to his son, kneeling back down on the hard floor to wrap his strong arms around the boy in a tight, protective hug.
David: I am so sorry, Leo... Daddy is so sorry he did not notice sooner. I swear to you nobody will ever hurt you again.
Leo: Is Mommy going away, Daddy?
David: Yes, buddy. Mommy is leaving this house today.
Chloe gasped in shock, taking a fast step forward with her hand raised in protest against his words.
Chloe: You cannot kick me out of my own home, David! My name is on the house deed too!
David: You just committed felony child abuse on video camera in front of witnesses! You have no rights in this house anymore!
Chloe: I will call my divorce lawyer right now! You cannot take my child away from me!
David: Go ahead and call him. Show him these video files and see what he tells you about custody!
Chloe reached into her purse and pulled out her smartphone with shaking hands. She dialed a number quickly, pacing back and forth across the marble living room floor while glaring at David and Evelyn. Her confidence was completely shattered, replaced by a desperate need to save her own image and high-society standing.
Chloe: Hello, Marcus? I need you to come over to the house right now. David is making wild accusations against me!
David: Tell him to bring a criminal defense attorney too, Chloe! Because the police are coming here next!