The handcuffs clicked loudly in the quiet study as Victoria was secured.
She glared at Clara with pure hatred burning in her dark eyes.
Victoria: You won't get a single penny of his money, you hear me!
Clara: The money never mattered to me, Victoria.
Clara: I only wanted to protect my father's hard work from your greed.
Julian: The life insurance policy won't pay you a dime now either.
Victoria gasped as Julian revealed the last piece of the dark puzzle.
Julian: I found the hidden life insurance papers in the company safe yesterday.
Julian: You took out a five million dollar policy on Clara two weeks ago.
Officer Davis shook his head in disgust as he pulled Victoria out.
Officer Davis: Watch your head while entering the police cruiser, ma'am.
They led Victoria down the long driveway under the warm Texas sun.
Clara watched from the massive front porch as the police car drove away.
The loud sirens faded into the distance, leaving absolute peace behind.
Julian walked out to the porch and stood right beside his friend.
Julian: Are you going to be okay Clara?
Clara: I am now, thanks to you jumping in when you did.
Julian: I came over early because I had a bad feeling about her.
Clara: My father always said you had great instincts just like him.
Julian gently handed her a small velvet pouch he collected from the floor.
Inside were all thirty-two white pearls he picked up from the marble.
Julian: We can have a jeweler re-string these on a new wire tomorrow.
Clara: Thank you, Julian, for saving my life and my family name.
Clara held the velvet pouch close to her heart and smiled softly.
She looked up at the blue Texas sky with a deep sense of relief.
The long battle for her family's trust fund was finally over today.
She knew her father would be proud of how she stood her ground.
Julian: Let's get your belongings and close up this house for good.
Clara: Yes, it is time to start a fresh new chapter.
They turned around and walked back into the brightly lit grand house.
The cold marble floor was clean once again, free of any darkness.