Mark sat downstairs at the dining table with his trusted lawyer Arthur present.
Arthur read through the forged documents with a dark and stern expression.
Arthur: This is a very clear case of illegal forgery and fraud, Mark.
Mark: I want full custody of my children starting right this minute.
Arthur: We can file for an immediate emergency court order today.
Victoria walked into the dining room with a packed suitcase in hand.
Her face was pale and her eyes were red from heavy crying upstairs.
Victoria: Arthur, please do not do this to our family unit.
Arthur: Victoria, you signed your husband's name under penalty of law.
Victoria: I was desperate! I did not mean to scare Emily!
Mark stood up from the wooden chair and looked at his wife closely.
Mark: You scared her so badly she crawled across the house to hide.
Victoria: I just told her to stay in her room while I packed!
Mark: She thought you were going to separate her from her brother!
Victoria looked down at the shiny hardwood floor in deep shame.
Victoria: I am so sorry, Mark. Please let us talk in private.
Mark: There is nothing left for us to talk about, Victoria.
Two police officers walked up the front steps toward the open doorway.
Mark had called the local station right after finding the forged folder upstairs.
The lead officer stepped into the entryway and looked at everyone calmly.
Officer: We received a call regarding financial fraud and a family dispute.
Mark handed the thick brown envelope directly over to the police officer.
Mark: Here are the fake documents and the forged signatures, Officer.
The officer reviewed the paperwork carefully before turning toward Victoria slowly.
Officer: Victoria, you will need to come with us to the station.
Victoria gasped as the officer guided her gently toward the front door.
Victoria: Mark, please! Do not let them take me away like this!
Mark: You made your own choices, Victoria. Now you face them.
Emily watched quietly from the hallway door as her mother walked out.
Mark walked over and wrapped his strong arms around both his children.
The long dark nightmare in their home was finally coming to an end.