Mark Miller ran up the grand stairs of his family mansion as fast as his feet could carry him.
He had heard the angry shouting all the way from the front driveway moments ago.
His mother, Victoria, was shouting at the top of her lungs again.
She had never accepted Sarah as his lawful wife or part of the family.
Sarah was six months pregnant with their very first child together.
She had spent the whole afternoon trying to talk to Victoria about their future.
Sarah wanted to heal the deep wound between the two women before the baby arrived.
Instead, Victoria had trapped Sarah on the second-floor balcony above the main foyer.
Mark reached the top step and saw his mother standing over his trembling wife.
Victoria wore an expensive pearl-white tailored suit that showed off her vast wealth.
Her face was pale with deep anger as she glared down at Sarah.
Victoria: You think a baby changes anything in this household, Sarah?
Sarah: Victoria, please just listen to me for one minute!
Victoria: You came from nothing, and you will leave with nothing!
Sarah: Mark loves me, and we signed our marriage papers months ago!
Victoria: A simple divorce lawyer can tear those papers up by tonight!
Sarah backed away until her lower back pressed against the iron railing.
She looked down at the hard floor below and felt her stomach drop instantly.
Sarah: Please do not step any closer to me, Victoria!
Victoria: My son belongs in the corporate boardroom, not with a low-class girl!
Mark took three quick steps forward down the long upper hallway.
Mark: Mom, step away from Sarah right now!
Victoria turned her head for a split second to glare at her son.
Her eyes were filled with rage that had built up over many years.
Victoria: She is destroying our family legacy, Mark!
Mark: You are the one who is breaking this family apart!
Sarah tried to slide away along the smooth curved railing.
Victoria reached out her hand and grabbed Sarah by her wrist tightly.
Sarah: Let go of me! You are hurting my arm!
Victoria: You will not ruin my son's trust fund or his future!
Mark sprinted forward as fast as he could down the polished hall.
He saw his mother put both hands against Sarah's shoulders with full force.
Mark: Mom, no! Do not touch her!
Sarah lost her footing on the shiny tiled floor near the edge.
She slipped past the low rail and tumbled backward into the open air.