Julian walked slowly into the glass sunroom of his family home.
Morning light flooded through the high windows.
White rose petals covered the smooth marble floor.
He stopped when he saw his wife Clara standing near the doorway.
She wore a red silk dress that stood out against the white room.
Julian: What are you doing out here so early?
Clara smoothed her dress with calm hands.
Clara: Go back to bed, Julian.
Clara: I have taken care of everything.
Julian lowered his gaze to the floor.
The family maid Elena lay near the window.
She looked pale and terrified.
Julian: Why is Elena on the ground?
Julian hurried across the room.
He knelt beside the trembling woman.
Elena: She... she knows about Ethan...
Julian froze in shock.
Julian: What did you just say?
Clara: Don't listen to her!
Clara: She is delusional and confused!
Julian stood up slowly.
He looked directly at Clara.
Julian: What is she talking about, Clara?
Clara: She fell down the steps, Julian.
Clara: She is making up wild stories.
Elena pulled herself up slightly.
Elena: I saw the papers in your office, Clara.
Elena: I saw what you did to Ethan's trust fund.
Clara took a step backward.
Clara: You had no right to look through my private desk!
Julian felt a cold shiver run down his back.
Julian: Is this true?
Julian: Did you touch my brother's estate?
Clara: She is lying to break us apart!
Elena reached into her pocket with shaking fingers.
She held out a folded piece of paper.
Elena: Take this, Julian.
Julian grabbed the document from her hand.
He unfolded it under the bright sunroom light.
His eyes widened as he read the first line.
It was a legal transfer of ownership.
Clara tried to snatch the paper away.
Clara: Give that back to me right now!
Julian pulled it out of her reach.
Julian: How long have you been hiding this?
Clara: I did it to protect our future!
Julian: You stole from my family!
Elena gasped as she sat up further.
Elena: There is more in the study closet.
Clara glared at Elena with intense hatred.
Clara: You will regret speaking a word of this!
Julian stepped between Clara and Elena.
Julian: Do not threaten her again in this house.
Julian: We are going upstairs right now.
Clara: You are making a huge mistake, Julian.
Julian looked down at the document again.
The signature at the bottom was forged.