Sarah dropped her handbag onto the cold floor and sprinted forward fast.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she heard Lily sobbing wildly.
She dropped to her knees right on the hard white marble surface.
She gathered her small daughter into a tight and warm embrace instantly.
Lily buried her wet face into her mother's beige pantsuit fabric.
Sarah: I got you, you're safe now.
Lily: She broke my necklace, Mommy!
Sarah: Shh, it is going to be okay, my love.
Sarah stroked Lily's soft hair while checking her neck for any scratches.
Relief washed over her when she saw her child was physically unharmed.
Then her relief turned into pure hot rage as she looked up.
Victoria was standing on the upper landing with her chin held high.
She was holding the sharp pair of silver scissors in her hand.
She did not look sorry or ashamed for hurting a child's feelings.
Sarah stood up quickly from the floor with her hands clenched tight.
She stormed up the grand staircase with swift and heavy footsteps.
She stopped just one step below her arrogant mother on the landing.
Sarah: How could you do this to an innocent child?!
Victoria: She is wearing priceless family heirlooms that belong to me.
Sarah: Dad gave those pearls to her before he died!
Victoria: He was old and confused when he made that choice.
Sarah: You have no heart at all, Victoria!
Victoria: Do not use that loud tone with me in my house.
Sarah took a deep breath to steady her shaken and trembling voice.
She looked back down the stairs at her little girl who stood waiting.
The maid was now crouching near Lily and offering a soft tissue.
Sarah turned her sharp gaze back onto her mother's stern face.
Sarah: You have hated my daughter since the day she was born.
Victoria: She is not a true Vance and you know it.
Sarah: She has more dignity than you could ever dream of having.
Victoria: Leave this house right now if you cannot show respect.
Sarah: I will leave, but you will pay for what you did.
Victoria laughed softly and turned her back on her furious daughter.
She walked toward the private office at the end of the hallway.
Sarah stomped back down the stairs and wrapped her arm around Lily.
She knelt down and picked up three stray pearls from the floor.
She slipped them into her pantsuit pocket to keep them completely safe.
Sarah: We are going home right now, sweetie.
Lily: Will we ever come back here again?
Sarah: Never again without justice on our side.
Sarah picked up her daughter and carried her out to the car.
She strapped Lily securely into the backseat of the vehicle again.
As she drove away from the Dallas mansion, her mind raced fast.
She knew Victoria had hidden the family legal papers for years now.
Her father had left behind a clear trust fund for his granddaughter.
Victoria had locked the documents inside her private safe to control money.
Sarah gripped the leather steering wheel tightly with both of her hands.
It was time to call the family estate lawyer and expose Victoria.