Ethan moved with explosive speed before Victoria could even formulate another lie. He closed the remaining distance between them and delivered a thunderous, open-handed slap directly across Victoria's face. The loud impact cracked like thunder through the high-ceilinged room. Victoria shrieked as the blow forced her head around, her hair flying wildly across her eyes. But Ethan was far from finished. Driven by pure paternal instinct and raw fury, he struck her again with a heavy backhand slap that completely lifted her off her feet.
Victoria tumbled sideways, her glittering emerald gown twisting as she slammed hard onto the cold marble floor. She let out a pathetic shriek of pain, pulling her knees up to her chest as she clutched her swollen cheek. She looked up at Ethan in complete terror, finding no trace of the gentle, loving husband she thought she could manipulate. Ethan stood over her like a vengeful wall, his chest heaving up and down as his booming voice echoed to the very top of the estate's high chandelier.
Ethan: YOU BIT MY BABY?! YOU ARE NOT AN ANIMAL—YOU ARE A MONSTER!
Victoria: Ethan, please! I was just stressed! It was an accident!
Ethan: GUARDS! TAKE HER AWAY! SHE WILL NEVER SEE THIS FAMILY AGAIN!
Victoria: You cannot do this to me! I am your wife!
The two tall security guards who had been standing at the foyer entrance immediately rushed forward across the marble. They grabbed Victoria by her upper arms, pulling her roughly to her feet despite her wild kicking and screaming. Her expensive emerald dress caught on the corner of the sofa as she struggled, but the guards showed her no mercy. They pinned her wrists behind her back, taking her down to the ground again briefly to click heavy steel handcuffs onto her wrists before dragging her toward the heavy double front doors.
Ethan ignored her hysterical screams as the guards pulled her out to the driveway. He turned his back on her entirely, taking a deep breath to calm his racing pulse. He walked over to Sarah, his face softening as he looked down at his weeping son. He extended his arms with immense gentleness, picking Leo up from Sarah's lap and cradling the baby against his broad chest. He kissed the top of Leo's soft head repeatedly, whispering quiet words of comfort into his son's hair while holding his injured hand against his warm vest.
Ethan: I am so sorry, my sweet boy. Daddy is here now.
Sarah: He was so brave, Mr. Vance. He tried to pull away.
Ethan: Sarah... you saved my son today. You slapped her to protect him.
Sarah: I could not stand by and let her hurt him, sir.
Ethan: You will never have to worry about your job or your safety ever again.
Ethan pulled out his phone with one hand while holding Leo tightly with the other. He dialed his primary custody lawyer and family attorney on speakerphone, his voice dropping into a cold, lethal business tone. He demanded an emergency police unit to arrest Victoria for felony child abuse, alongside immediate divorce papers that would strip her of every single penny, prenup right, and asset tied to the Vance name. The nightmare inside the house was finally coming to an end, but the real healing was just beginning for the small family left behind.