Victoria: You cannot be serious, Richard! You want me to bow down to a maid?
Richard: I want you to start acting like a human being with a shred of decency.
Victoria: I am your wife!
Richard: And that is something I am rapidly beginning to regret.
Victoria gasped, stepping back as if Richard had physically struck her. The anger in her eyes instantly morphed into genuine shock.
Victoria: What did you just say to me?
Richard: You heard me. You have treated everyone in this house like garbage for years. The drivers, the cooks, the cleaners, even our own son!
Victoria: I give Leo everything he wants! I buy him whatever he asks for!
Leo: You don't give me anything that matters, Mom! You're mean to everyone! You made Hannah cry because you wanted to feel important!
Victoria: Leo...
Leo: I hate how you act! I wish you weren't my mom!
Victoria: Leo! How can you say that to me?
Leo: Because it's true! Hannah treated me nicer this morning when she made me breakfast than you have all week!
Victoria stood frozen, her chest heaving as she looked between her son and her husband. For the first time in her life, her wealth and high status could not protect her from the harsh reality staring her in the face.
Richard: Hannah, are you okay?
Hannah: I... I think so, Mr. Sterling. My face hurts, but... I'm just glad everyone knows I didn't steal anything.
Richard: You don't have to explain yourself to anyone ever again. You are a valued employee here, and what happened today was completely unacceptable.
Hannah: Thank you, sir.
Richard: In fact, effective immediately, your salary is doubled. And you will be taking over as head estate manager with full authority over household operations.
Victoria: What?! You can't promote her after this chaos!
Richard: I can, and I just did. And as for you, Victoria...
Victoria: Richard, don't do something foolish over a maid.
Richard: You physically assaulted a worker. You falsely accused her of grand larceny. If Hannah wanted to call the police right now, you would be leaving this estate in the back of a squad car.
Victoria's eyes widened with genuine fear. She looked at Hannah, who was standing tall now, wiping the last of the tears from her cheek.
Victoria: She wouldn't do that...
Richard: She has every legal right to. Do you have any idea what a assault charge and a false police report claim would do to your reputation? To your trust fund? To your social status?
Victoria: You wouldn't let her press charges against your own wife!
Richard: I will not stand in her way if she chooses to. I am a corporate lawyer, Victoria. I know exactly how serious this is. You committed assault and battery on camera in front of a dozen witnesses.
Victoria: Richard, please...
Richard: You are going to apologize to Hannah right now. A real, genuine apology. Or I will personally call my colleague, the top divorce lawyer in the state, and have settlement papers drawn up by tomorrow morning.
Victoria: You're threatening me with a divorce over this?
Richard: It's not a threat, Victoria. It's a promise. Choose right now.