Within ten minutes, two city police cruisers pulled up the long winding driveway.
Red and blue lights flashed brightly against the white marble pillars of the mansion.
Arthur, the family lawyer, stepped out of the lead police cruiser immediately.
Richard led Lily downstairs to the front foyer to meet the arriving officers.
The front doors opened, and the chief of police walked inside briskly.
Two officers brought Victoria inside, holding her wrists firmly behind her back.
She was no longer wearing her arrogant expression from just an hour ago.
Her face was flushed red with embarrassment and pure, desperate panic.
Victoria: Richard, tell these officers to release me right now!
Richard: You brought this entirely on yourself, Victoria.
Arthur: We have clear evidence of attempted grand larceny and child endangerment.
Victoria: That is absurd! I was just looking after my future stepdaughter!
Lily: She tried to steal mommy's key and squeezed my wrist very hard!
The police chief looked down at Lily's red, bruised skin with deep concern.
He signaled to his officers to put heavy steel handcuffs on Victoria's wrists.
The metallic click echoed loudly throughout the tall, spacious marble room.
Officer: Victoria Vance, you are under arrest for child endangerment and fraud.
Victoria: You cannot do this to me! Do you know who I am?
Richard: Yes, we finally know exactly who you are.
Arthur handed a formal stack of court injunction papers to the chief officer.
Arthur: A restraining order is already filed and active as of five minutes ago.
Victoria: Richard, please! We can talk about this privately without police!
Richard: There is nothing left for us to talk about, ever.
The officers turned Victoria around and began escorting her out the double doors.
She kicked her designer heels on the marble floor, shouting wild threats.
Nobody listened to her desperate pleas as she was pushed into the police car.
The heavy doors of the cruiser slammed shut, cutting off her voice completely.
Richard watched the police vehicle drive away down the long asphalt driveway.
A massive weight lifted off his chest as the red lights faded into the distance.
He looked down at Lily, who was watching quietly from his side.
Richard: She is gone for good now, sweetie.