Victoria took a fast step forward across the wide marble floor.
Her red dress swept past the broken pieces as her face turned pale.
"Give me that envelope!" Victoria demanded with a sharp scream in her voice.
Meredith pulled back slightly in surprise at the sudden panic in Victoria's speech.
David noticed the extreme reaction and stepped between both women immediately.
He reached down and took the thick sealed envelope directly from Meredith's hand.
The paper felt heavy and crisp between his tall fingers.
He turned the envelope over to examine the official markings on the back.
A strong handwriting was written neatly across the front in dark ink.
David recognized the classic style of writing after staring at it for a moment.
"That's your mother's handwriting..." David said softly with deep confusion.
His voice carried a clear tone of disbelief as he read the named address.
Victoria reached out frantically to grab the letter away from David's hand.
"Give it, Meredith!" Victoria screamed, confusing the names in her wild panic.
David stepped back quickly before her fingers could catch the paper edge.
He blocked her path with his shoulder while keeping Lily safe behind him.
"Why was a letter from late Mrs. Sterling hidden under the table base?" David asked.
Victoria tried to brush past him with an angry look on her face.
"It is personal family property that belongs to me!" Victoria shouted loudly.
David looked closely at the intact wax seal stamped onto the paper.
The seal bore the official crest of the family law firm downtown.
It had never been opened or delivered to its intended recipient.
David realized that this document was hidden on purpose long ago.
He raised his hand to stop Victoria from moving any closer to him.
"Stay away from them," David warned with a low and steady voice.
Two estate security guards stepped into the grand ballroom from the hallway.
They stood firmly behind David to ensure order remained inside the room.
The large framed American flag hung quietly on the wall behind them.
David looked down at the paper and then back at Victoria's nervous face.
"You weren't protecting the vase... You were protecting this!" David stated firmly.
Victoria stopped moving as her breath hitched inside her throat.
She swallowed hard while looking around at the guards standing in place.
The truth was slowly coming out in the bright daylight of the room.
David handed Lily carefully to Meredith so he could open the letter.
Meredith held the little girl gently and stepped back toward the door.
Victoria made one more desperate move to grab the paper from David.
David turned his body sharply to block her path once again.
"Call our legal team right now," David ordered the security guard beside him.
The guard nodded quickly and pulled out his phone to make the call.
Victoria sank down into a golden side chair with a low moan.
Her mask of confidence was completely gone in front of everyone present.
David broke the old red wax seal with his thumb carefully.
He pulled out the folded legal paper hidden inside the thick envelope.