Lily squeezed past Veronica’s legs, darting into the wide, marble-floored hallway of the mega mansion.
Veronica: Catch her, Julian! The estate guards will see her!
Julian sprinted into the foyer, his face bleeding, knocked-over decorative vases crashing onto the floor behind him.
Julian: Lily! Stop right there or I swear to God you will never see the light of day!
Clara sprinted as fast as her aging knees allowed, grabbing a heavy brass candelabra from the dining room sideboard.
Clara: Leave my granddaughter alone!
Julian lunged for Lily's collar near the heavy mahogany front doors, his fingers grazing her hair.
Clara swung the brass candelabra with both hands, striking Julian across the shoulder blade.
He groaned, crashing into the front coat rack, bringing down trench coats and umbrellas in a chaotic pile.
Lily: Grandma, the door is locked with a code! I can't reach the keypad!
Clara: Step aside, baby!
Clara raised the heavy brass base and smashed it directly against the electronic smart lock on the wall.
Sparks flew as the plastic keypad shattered, but the magnetic deadbolt buzzed loudly and clicked open.
Veronica: You are destroying our house, you psychotic hag!
Veronica charged from behind, aiming a glass bottle at Clara’s head.
Clara turned just in time, ducking as the heavy crystal decanter shattered against the oak wall behind her.
Clara: You traded your soul for stolen money, Veronica!
Clara grabbed the brass candelabra once more and shoved Veronica into the hallway mirror. The glass cracked with a thunderous echo.
Veronica: Julian! Shoot them! Get the gun from the safe!
Julian: Shut up, Veronica! Just hold the damn door!
Julian rose from the floor, his eyes wild with terror and desperation. The facade of the polished businessman was completely gone.
Julian: Mother, if you step out that door, you destroy our entire family name!
Clara: You destroyed this family the moment you put an empty coffin in the ground!
Clara shoved the heavy mahogany door open, letting the freezing rain pour over the threshold.
Clara: Out, Lily! Run to the gatehouse!
Julian lunged once more, grabbing Clara’s trench coat by the collar, dragging her onto the wet stone porch.
Julian: You’re not ruining this for me! Ten million dollars is waiting for me in Zurich!
Clara: You will never touch a single cent of her mother’s inheritance!