Evelyn reached out and took Sarah's cold trembling hand inside her warm palms.
Sarah did not pull away this time as fresh tears rolled down her face.
Sarah: Why didn't you look harder for me back then?
Evelyn: I hired private investigators, but you changed your name and vanished.
Sarah: I had to protect myself from more hurt and false accusations.
Evelyn: I put Richard in prison, but losing you broke my heart completely.
Sarah: I lived in small studio apartments working double shifts every day.
Evelyn: You will never have to struggle another day in your life, I promise.
Lily looked up at both of them with wide curious blue eyes.
Lily: Mommy, is grandmother going to be our family again?
Sarah: I don't know yet, sweetie... things are complicated.
Evelyn: Please come back home to the estate where you both belong.
Before Sarah could answer, heavy footsteps echoed down the tiled kitchen hallway.
The estate's wealthy manager Harrison stepped into the room with a clipboard.
He looked sternly at Sarah and tapped his golden wrist watch impatiently.
Harrison: Why aren't you serving food in the main dining hall right now?
Sarah: I was just taking a brief moment, sir.
Harrison: You are paid to work, not chat with our honored host!
Evelyn: How dare you speak to my daughter in that rude tone!
Harrison: Your daughter? Ma'am, she is just a hired caterer for tonight!
Evelyn turned toward Harrison with intense fury flashing inside her bright eyes.
She stood up tall to her full height and pointed directly at his chest.
Evelyn: She is the rightful heiress to this entire family estate and fortune!
Harrison: I... I had no idea, Mrs. Vance... please forgive me!
Evelyn: You are fired from my estate effective immediately, get out now!
Harrison turned pale as white paper and dropped his wooden clipboard onto the floor.
He scrambled backward in shock and hurried out through the service doors.
Sarah watched in utter amazement as her mother defended her with fierce pride.
For the first time in fifteen years, Sarah felt safe and truly protected.
She looked at Evelyn with a warm soft smile slowly growing on her face.
Sarah: You haven't changed a bit when you get angry, Mom.
Evelyn: No one will ever disrespect my family again, especially not in my house.
Lily: Yay! Grandmother is brave and strong!
Evelyn smiled warmly and crouched down to hug Lily once again.
She squeezed the child close while looking up lovingly into Sarah's soft eyes.
The dark shadows of their painful past began to dissolve into bright hope.
However, an unexpected visitor was walking through the front entrance doors right then.