David sat in his quiet study while looking over the monthly bank statements for his company.
He had spent thirty years building his real estate empire from the ground up.
His family lived in a massive white mansion surrounded by tall green pine trees.
Everything seemed completely peaceful until a loud crash echoed from the front driveway.
David dropped his pen onto the dark wooden desk.
He stood up quickly and walked toward the grand front hallway.
The heavy oak doors were wide open to the cool afternoon air.
A bright red carpet stretched out toward the polished marble entrance steps.
David stepped outside and felt a cold chill run down his spine.
His twenty-year-old son Leo was lying flat on the hard marble floor.
Leo was holding his head while groaning in deep pain.
His light blue dress shirt was torn at the elbow.
Fresh red scratches were visible across his right cheekbone.
A tall woman stood directly beside Leo on the stone steps.
She wore a floor-length red satin gown that caught the bright sunlight.
A detailed white masquerade mask covered the top half of her face.
Only her bright red hair and sharp chin were visible.
David took two fast steps down the stone porch.
David: What did you do to my son?
Clara: I did not touch your precious boy, David.
Leo: She blocked my car at the front gate, Dad!
David rushed over and knelt beside his injured child.
He placed a warm hand on Leo's trembling shoulder.
David: Call the police right now, Leo.
Clara: Go ahead and call the local sheriff if you want.
Clara: But he will want to read this legal file first.
The masked woman held up a thick yellow envelope.
David stared at the dark red wax seal on the paper.
He recognized that specific seal from his past legal career.
It belonged to a famous law firm in downtown Chicago.
David: Why are you wearing a mask in my driveway?
Clara: Because you do not deserve to see my real face yet.
Leo tried to push himself up off the marble floor.
He winced loudly and grabbed his bruised right knee.
Leo: She forced my car off the gravel driveway, Dad.
Clara: Your son was driving dangerously fast near the main gate.
Clara: He hit the stone wall while trying to avoid my car.
David stood up straight and faced the woman in red.
He stepped between her and his hurt son.
David: Tell me your name or leave my property immediately.
Clara: You used to know my name very well, David Miller.
David felt his heart race inside his chest.
Nobody had called him by that old full name in decades.
He stepped closer to the red-haired woman.
The bright daylight reflected off her smooth mask.
Her green eyes burned with intense anger behind the white lace pattern.
She did not flinch as David approached her position.
Clara: Look at your own mansion very carefully today.
Clara: You built this whole place on a terrible lie.
Leo pulled himself up by holding the iron railing.
He stared at the woman with pure confusion.
Leo: What is she talking about, Dad?
David did not answer his son's direct question.
He reached his hand out toward the woman's face.
He wanted to pull the mask off her skin.
She stepped back quickly and raised her hand.
Clara: Do not touch me until you read these papers.