The long mahogany dining table was set with fine silver and crystal glasses.
Eleanor sat at the head of the table wearing her expensive pearl necklace.
She smiled thin and cold as the maid served the evening soup quietly.
Eleanor: Marcus, we need to discuss the family business papers tonight.
Marcus: I think we should talk about Lily's trust fund instead, Mom.
Eleanor paused with her silver spoon held halfway to her pale lips.
Eleanor: There is nothing to discuss regarding that newborn child yet.
Clara: She is your granddaughter, Eleanor, not just a child.
Eleanor: A child who does not carry our pure family bloodline, Clara.
Marcus slammed his linen napkin down onto the polished dining table hard.
Marcus: What in the world are you talking about right now?
Eleanor: I hired a private investigator the moment you two got engaged.
Clara gasped aloud and held her hand against her quickening chest.
Clara: You had me followed by a private detective behind our backs?
Eleanor: A wealthy family must protect its vast fortune from gold diggers.
Marcus: Clara was a corporate accountant when I met her, Mom!
Eleanor: And her father filed for personal bankruptcy five years ago!
The room fell completely silent as the heavy words rang through the air.
Marcus looked at his mother with utter disappointment burning in his eyes.
Marcus: My wife's family history has nothing to do with our daughter.
Eleanor: It has everything to do with who inherits this estate, Marcus!
She pulled a thick sealed brown envelope from her embroidered velvet handbag.
Eleanor: I have prepared the disinheritance documents for you to sign tonight.
Clara: You cannot force my husband to sign away our daughter's rights!
Eleanor: I control the family trust until Marcus turns thirty-five next year!
Marcus stood up from his leather chair slowly, holding his temper in check.
Marcus: Hand that brown envelope over to me right now, Mom.
Eleanor: I will hand it to the family lawyer tomorrow morning instead.
She stood up quickly and clutched the heavy envelope tightly to her chest.
Marcus: Give me those papers before you ruin this family completely!
Eleanor turned around abruptly and walked toward the grand central staircase.
Marcus followed her closely, his footsteps echoing on the polished wood floor.
Clara ran behind them, holding her hands together in deep emotional distress.
Clara: Please stop this madness before someone gets hurt tonight!
Eleanor reached the top of the balcony overlooking the spacious lower foyer.
She looked down at the marble floor two stories beneath her thin feet.
Eleanor: If I cannot control this estate, nobody will have it!