Richard stood frozen near the open doorway, paralyzed by total shock.
He looked at his long-lost wife crawling across the polished marble floor.
He looked at Martha, who was trembling in fear against the wall.
"Sarah?" Richard choked out, his voice barely louder than a whisper.
"Richard... help me," Sarah gasped, reaching her trembling arm toward him.
Richard dropped to his knees on the floor beside his weak wife.
He took her ice-cold hand in his own, tears filling his eyes.
"They told me you died in a terrible crash years ago," Richard stammered.
"She lied to you!" Sarah cried weakly, pointing a finger at Martha.
"Eleanor paid her to keep me down there!" Sarah revealed with difficulty.
Richard turned his head quickly to glare directly at the housekeeper.
"Is this true, Martha?" Richard asked, his voice filled with deep rage.
Martha dropped to her knees, weeping loudly and shaking her head.
"Mrs. Eleanor forced me to do it!" Martha confessed in panic.
"She offered me a huge monthly sum of money to stay silent!"
"She said she would frame me for theft if I ever spoke!"
Richard reached into his jacket pocket to pull out his smart phone.
His hands shook violently as he dialed the emergency police number immediately.
"I need an ambulance and police officers at my estate right now," Richard said.
Clara hugged her mother tightly, feeling warm tears wet her shoulder.
The sound of high heels clicked against the stone steps outside the front door.
Eleanor walked inside, carrying several bright designer shopping bags.
She stopped instantly when she saw the open trapdoor and the crowd.
The shopping bags slipped from her hands, scattering expensive items everywhere.