Vanessa stood trembling against the glass window, clutching her manicured hands together. "Marcus, please, let's talk about this privately! We have an image to protect! The society gala is tomorrow night!"
"There is no gala for you, Vanessa," Marcus said, his voice dropping to a deadly, quiet register that vibrated through the room. "And there is no marriage."
He gestured to his head of security.
"Take her into custody. Hand over all security footage from this penthouse to the district attorney's office. Charge her with felony assault, child abuse, and domestic battery."
"You can't do this to me!" Vanessa shrieked as two burly officers seized her arms, snapping metal cuffs around her wrists. "My family built your political connections!"
"Your family couldn't save you from what you did today," Marcus said with cold finality. "Take her out."
As Vanessa was dragged away into the elevator in disgrace, Marcus held his daughter tight against his heart, promising that no shadow would ever fall upon her again in the home they built together.