Richard immediately dialed a contact number on his mobile phone speakerphone.
The phone rang twice before a deep male voice answered the call.
Lawyer: Hello Richard, how did your business trip go today?
Richard: Arthur, I need you at my house right now.
Lawyer: What is wrong, Richard? You sound very upset.
Richard: Bring the prenuptial agreement and divorce papers immediately.
Eleanor: Hang up that phone right now, Richard!
Richard: I will see you in twenty minutes, Arthur.
Richard ended the phone call and placed the phone back inside.
Eleanor stormed across the soft living room rug toward his side.
Eleanor: You are overreacting to a tiny domestic disagreement!
Richard: Forcing my daughter to clean on her knees is abuse.
Eleanor: I was just teaching her how to do housework!
Lily: She told me I was no better than a servant!
Richard felt his stomach drop as he heard his daughter's words.
He walked over to Lily and placed a gentle arm around her.
Richard: You will never have to clean for her again, Lily.
Lily: I was so scared you wouldn't believe me, Dad.
Richard: I will always believe you and protect you forever.
Eleanor paced back and forth across the shiny hardwood floor.
She realized her luxurious lifestyle was slipping away very quickly now.
Eleanor: If you divorce me, I will demand half your savings!
Richard: You will not receive a single dollar from my estate.
Eleanor: My lawyer will fight you for every single property!
Richard: Good luck fighting video evidence of child mistreatment.
Ten minutes later, headlights flashed through the tall front windows.
A black sedan pulled into the long circular driveway outside.
Arthur, the family lawyer, stepped out carrying a dark leather briefcase.
He walked up the stone front steps and knocked on the door.
Richard walked to the foyer and unlocked the door for Arthur.
Lawyer: Good afternoon, Richard. I came as fast as possible.
Richard: Thank you for coming on such short notice, Arthur.
Lawyer: Where is Eleanor currently standing?
Richard: She is right inside the living room waiting for us.
Arthur walked inside and placed his briefcase on the dining table.
He opened the metal latches and pulled out a stack of paper.
Lawyer: I brought the standard emergency divorce filing documents.
Eleanor: You have no right to do this to me!
Lawyer: Mrs. Vance, the legal terms are exceptionally clear here.
Eleanor: I did not sign away my spousal support rights!
Lawyer: Section nine explicitly invalidates support in cases of cruelty.
Eleanor gasped as the reality of the situation hit her completely.
She looked around the grand mansion that she was about to lose.