Lily quickly regained her balance on the slippery checkered tiles, ignoring the sharp, throbbing heat radiating across her cheek. She immediately dropped to her knees, gathering a sobbing Chloe into her arms to comfort her beneath the bright chandelier lights. The surrounding guests stared in complete disbelief at the sudden display of brutality, yet Richard showed zero remorse. He stood tall, adjusting his cuffs while pointing an aggressive finger directly at the terrified little girl. Chloe buried her face into her mother's shoulder, her small frame shaking violently as tears ruined her white dress. Lily held her tightly, checking her head and body to make sure the physical aggression hadn't caused severe harm during the chaotic struggle.
Lily gently cradled Chloe's face, pulling back her daughter’s soft hair to inspect the injury. A fresh, tender red bruise was already forming on the child's forehead where she had bumped against a marble pillar while being shoved during the initial confrontation. "Mommy, it hurts so much," Chloe whimpered, her tiny voice breaking the hearts of the few sympathetic onlookers standing near the catering tables. Lily felt a cold, lethal anger rise from the depths of her soul, replacing any lingering shock with absolute, unyielding protective fury. She kissed her daughter's brow, whispering softly that everything was going to be fine, before turning her gaze upward to face the billionaire standing above them.
Richard stepped closer, his heavy leather shoes clicking against the marble as he pointed down at them under the glow of the grand ceiling lights. "She stole from me! I saw it with my own eyes!" Richard roared across the room, attempting to justify his violence to the surrounding elite. "People like you don't belong at an event of this caliber! Security, throw them out onto the street immediately!" He raised his hand again, threatening to grab Lily by the collar to force her off the floor himself, completely convinced that his immense wealth and social standing rendered him entirely immune to consequences.