“Victoria saw what he was doing to you, then,” Richard said.

“She stood at the top of the stairs with her champagne glass in her hand,” Emily whispered, her voice fading… “She just watched him.”

“She didn’t call anyone for help,” Michael said.

“No,” Emily said.

“She came down three steps and looked straight at Ethan.”

Richard thought back to Victoria on the wide front porch earlier, complaining sourly about the muddy work boots he’d worn onto her clean tiles.

“What did Victoria tell him, Emily?” Richard asked.