Marcus: Open it carefully, Elena.
Elena pulled the thick blue envelope from the safe. Her fingers brushed over her father's familiar, elegant handwriting on the front: "To my beloved daughter, Elena." Tears filled her eyes again, but this time they were tears of deep relief.
Elena: He wrote this three weeks before he passed away.
Marcus: Read the main clause out loud so we can record it for the probate lawyer.
Elena: "I, Arthur Vance, being of sound mind, hereby leave the mansion, the surrounding grounds, and seventy percent of my liquid assets directly to my daughter, Elena Vance. To my wife, Victoria, I leave a stipend of ten thousand dollars a month, contingent upon her leaving the estate immediately."
Marcus: Ten thousand a month was more than generous for a woman who tried to rob him blind.
Elena: "Should Victoria or her daughter attempt to alter this document or challenge my wishes, all financial support shall be permanently revoked, and the matter handed over to law enforcement."
Marcus: Your father thought of everything. He knew exactly what kind of people they were.
Suddenly, Marcus's phone buzzed sharply in his pocket. He pulled it out and looked at the screen before answering.
Marcus: Hello, Mr. Harrison... Yes, we found the original document inside the wall safe... Yes, it's signed and notarized.
Elena watched Marcus's face as he listened to the lawyer on the other end of the line. A slight smile formed on his lips.
Marcus: That's wonderful news. Thank you, Harrison. Keep us updated on Victoria's arrest.
Elena: Did they arrest Victoria too?
Marcus: They caught her at the bank trying to wire three hundred thousand dollars to a shell company in the Cayman Islands. She's currently in custody alongside Chloe.
Elena: I almost feel sorry for them... almost.
Marcus: Don't waste your pity on people who would have left you with nothing on the street. They chose their path, Elena.
Elena: What happens to the house now?
Marcus: The house is officially yours. The court will order all of Victoria and Chloe's personal belongings removed by the end of the week.
Elena: I want to clean this place up, Marcus. I want to clear out every trace of their presence and make this feel like a home again.
Marcus: I'll help you every step of the way. Starting with that wine stain on the marble floor.
Elena laughed softly, wiping a stray tear from her cheek as she looked around the grand mahogany study. For the first time in six painful months, the dark shadows over her father's house were finally lifting.