The bright dining room suddenly felt completely cold despite the morning heat.
Elena pulled Maya out of the high chair and held her tight.
The baby buried her small face into Elena's shoulder and cried softly.
Elena: You have no right to talk about my child like that.
Victoria: I have every right as the woman who manages this household.
Victoria took two slow steps toward Elena with her hands tightly clenched.
Victoria: You brought this child into the family to steal the inheritance.
Elena: That is a disgusting accusation and you know it is false!
Victoria: You think Arthur will leave his entire legacy to a toddler?
Elena backed away until her hips hit the edge of the table.
She could hear her own pulse thumping loudly inside her ears now.
She had tolerated Victoria's passive remarks for nearly two full years.
However, attacking the legitimacy and place of her baby was too far.
Elena: Arthur loves Maya more than any contract or corporate stock.
Victoria: Love does not pay the taxes on a thirty-million-dollar estate!
Victoria stepped forward abruptly and reached out toward the high chair tray.
With a fast sweeping motion, she knocked the baby food bowl over.
The glass bowl shattered on the white marble floor into tiny pieces.
Bright orange puree splashed across the clean white skirting boards and floor.
Maya burst into a loud terrified scream at the sudden sharp crash.
Elena: What is wrong with you?! Are you completely crazy?!
Victoria: I am clearing out the trash before it ruins this house!
Victoria reached out again, her fingers curling into a tight tense fist.
She raised her hand high above her head as if to intimidate Elena.
Elena stepped back sharply, shielding Maya with her entire torso and head.
Elena: Get away from us right now, Victoria!
Victoria: You will sign the custody agreement waiver by tomorrow night!
Elena: I will never sign away my daughter's rightful place!
Victoria glared down at the crying infant with cold contemptuous eyes.
Victoria: Then I will make sure Arthur writes both of you out!
Elena held her crying baby close, rocking her back and forth rapidly.
Tears of pure frustration and fear spilled down Elena's own cheeks now.
She was terrified of what Victoria was capable of doing next.
Victoria had access to all the legal team contacts and corporate bank accounts.
If she manipulated Arthur's papers, Elena and Maya could lose everything overnight.
Elena: Arthur would never let you kick us out of this home.
Victoria: Arthur believes whatever financial reports I put on his desk.
She took another aggressive step forward, looming over Elena and the baby.
Victoria: He is old, frail, and trusts me completely with his life work.
Elena squeezed her eyes shut as Victoria raised her voice even louder.
The confrontation had reached a boiling point that could not be stopped.
Neither woman noticed the heavy double doors at the back swinging open.