Later that night, the party guests had all returned to their homes.
The grand ballroom had been cleaned completely by the professional staff.
Daniel and Eleanor sat in the warm private library upstairs together.
A cozy fire crackled in the fireplace, warming the large dark room.
Daniel handed his mother a hot mug of sweet tea with lemon.
Daniel: Drink this, Mom. It will warm you up after that shock.
Eleanor: Thank you, Daniel. You have always been a good son.
Daniel opened a heavy leather folder resting on his large oak desk.
Inside were the proposed trust fund documents for Chloe's monthly allowance.
She was set to receive fifty thousand dollars every single month after marriage.
Daniel: I am calling our family lawyer first thing tomorrow morning.
Daniel: All financial agreements and prenuptial trusts are officially revoked.
Eleanor set her mug down on the wooden side table near her chair.
Eleanor: She also asked me to change the family will last week.
Daniel: What? She talked to you about the inheritance already?
Eleanor: Yes, she visited my private home when you were away on business.
Eleanor: She tried to convince me to put the estate in her name.
Daniel slammed his fist down on the wooden desk with deep frustration.
Daniel: She was planning this whole greed scheme from the very start!
Eleanor: That is why I had to test her tonight, my dear boy.
Eleanor: Money attracts many people, but character keeps a family strong.
Daniel looked up at his mother with tears of gratitude in his eyes.
Daniel: You saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life.
Eleanor: That is what mothers are for, Daniel. We protect our children.
The security camera system on the desk monitor suddenly beeped quietly.
Daniel pressed a button to review the recorded video footage from earlier.
The screen showed Chloe stealing a diamond ring from the guest bedroom dresser.
Daniel: Look at this, Mom! She was stealing from our home too!
Eleanor: We must hand this footage directly to the local police department.