The grand study at the end of the hall had heavy oak double doors.
Inside, three prominent estate attorneys sat around a massive polished mahogany table.
They were reviewing thick legal documents regarding the multi-million dollar family trust fund.
Elena pushed the heavy oak doors open without knocking on the wood first.
The three lawyers looked up in surprise from their spread-out paper documents.
The head lawyer, Mr. Harrison, adjusted his silver reading glasses in confusion.
Mr. Harrison: What is the meaning of this sudden interruption, Miss Elena?
Elena: You need to stop signing those trust documents immediately, Mr. Harrison!
Victoria pushed past Elena into the room, her face flushed with deep red anger.
Victoria: Ignore this foolish house manager, gentlemen, she has lost her mind!
Elena: I found young Leo locked inside a secret wall compartment behind a painting!
The three lawyers gasped in complete shock and looked at the frightened young boy.
Mr. Harrison stood up slowly from his leather chair with a very grim expression.
Mr. Harrison: Is this true, Victoria? Was the boy kept hidden in the house?
Victoria: Of course not! The boy was simply playing a silly childhood game!
Leo: She locked the heavy frame door and left me in the dark!
Leo: She said I was not allowed to meet the lawyers today at all!
Mr. Harrison looked closely at the frightened, crying child and then at Victoria.
Mr. Harrison: Victoria, you explicitly told us Leo was away at boarding school today.
Victoria: His schedule changed at the last minute, so he came home early!
Elena: She locked him behind the wall so you would sign over his inheritance!
Victoria slammed her hand onto the polished wooden desk with a loud bang.
Victoria: I am his legal guardian now, and I control this family estate!
Mr. Harrison: You are only his temporary guardian until the final court hearing next week.
Mr. Harrison: The late owner's will clearly states Leo inherits eighty percent directly.
Mr. Harrison: If you kept him hidden to sign paperwork, that is serious legal fraud.
Victoria began to sweat heavily as the three lawyers exchanged serious, quiet looks.
She realized her elaborate plan to seize control of the money was falling apart.
Victoria: You cannot take the word of a child and a house servant!
Elena: My phone recorded the entire moment I opened that secret wall door.
Elena held up her smartphone, showing the video screen to the three attorneys.
The video clearly showed Leo trapped inside the dark space behind the painting.
It also recorded Victoria demanding that Elena put the painting back in place.
Victoria's face turned completely white as she watched the video clip play back.
Mr. Harrison: This evidence is completely damning and very terrible, Victoria.
Mr. Harrison: I am halting all legal proceedings regarding the family trust right now.
Victoria: You cannot do this to me! I am the head of this home!
Mr. Harrison: I am calling the family court judge and the authorities immediately.
Elena wrapped her arms around Leo's shoulders to protect him from the tension.
Victoria stared at Elena with intense hatred burning deep inside her cold eyes.
She knew her attempt to steal the vast family fortune was officially over.
The truth was out, and justice was finally coming for the greedy stepmother.