Mark carried Lily down to the living room and called his lawyer.
His lawyer, David Vance, was also his father's old trusted friend.
David arrived at the Dallas mansion within thirty short minutes.
He carried a heavy black briefcase and walked with a purposeful stride.
David: Mark, what happened? You sounded very upset on the phone.
Mark: My mother is hiding original legal papers in her study safe.
Mark: She tried to accuse Lily of stealing Sarah's personal silver locket.
David: I brought your father's original last will and testament file.
Evelyn walked down the grand curved stairs, holding her head high.
She tried to act like nothing bad had happened earlier today.
Evelyn: David, why are you coming into my home uninvited today?
David: Mark called me to clarify the terms of the estate trust.
Evelyn: The trust is entirely under my personal control as surviving spouse.
David: That is not what your late husband's final document states.
David pulled out a thick set of papers with official state seals.
He laid the legal documents flat on the large glass coffee table.
David: Arthur left half of the real estate holdings directly to Mark.
David: And he created a special trust fund for his granddaughter Lily.
Mark: A trust fund for Lily? I never knew about this.
David: Arthur set aside five million dollars for Lily's future care.
David: But the original certificate required Mark's signature when she turned five.
Mark looked directly at Evelyn, who had turned completely pale now.
Mark: You hid the trust papers so Lily would never receive it.
Evelyn: That money belongs to the Vance name, not that girl!
David: Evelyn, hiding these official court papers is a serious crime.
David: The court can remove you as trustee immediately for this action.
Evelyn sank down slowly into a velvet armchair, looking defeated.
Her hands trembled as she clutched her expensive pearl necklace.
Mark: You accused my innocent child of stealing to cover your lies.
Evelyn: I was only trying to protect our family legacy, Mark!
Mark: You destroyed this family the moment you attacked my daughter.
Lily held onto Mark's hand tightly, feeling safe by his side.
Mark knew what he had to do to protect his young child.