Inside the upper corridor, the air felt incredibly heavy and tense.
Victoria kept her back against the cool stone of the balcony balustrade.
Victoria: You cannot change the terms of the trust fund by yelling at me.
Evelyn: If you are not alive to sign the final papers, the backup clause takes effect!
Victoria felt her heart stop as the dark meaning of those words hit her.
Victoria: What are you talking about, Evelyn?
Evelyn: As the surviving spouse, I inherit everything if you fail to claim it today!
Evelyn smiled a cruel, cold smile that sent chills down Victoria's spine.
Evelyn: The lawyer told me about that tiny little clause yesterday morning.
Victoria: You are out of your mind if you think you can get away with this!
Evelyn: Nobody is here to watch us right now, my dear Victoria.
Victoria looked frantically around the grand upper hall for any sign of help.
The staff was busy working in the kitchen at the far end of the property.
She was completely isolated at the top of the balcony with an angry woman.
Victoria: Marcus will be here any minute with the estate paperwork.
Evelyn: Marcus is just an employee who does what he is told!
Evelyn raised her arms slowly, narrowing her eyes as she locked her glare on Victoria.
Evelyn: Once you are out of the picture, I will control every single account!
Victoria felt a surge of pure panic wash over her entire body.
Victoria: Evelyn, stay back, do not come any closer to me!
Evelyn: Goodbye, Victoria!
Evelyn lunged forward with sudden, explosive force across the shiny floor.
She placed both of her hands firmly against Victoria's shoulders.
Victoria tried to grab the railing, but her hands slipped off the smooth stone.
Evelyn shoved her violently backward over the edge of the high balustrade.
A loud, horrifying scream echoed through the vast expanse of the mansion foyer.
Victoria: Help me!
Victoria fell through the open air toward the hard marble floor far below.
At that exact moment, the massive front double doors swung open wildly.
Marcus stepped into the house and heard the desperate cry for help instantly.
He looked up and saw Victoria falling directly toward the center of the entrance hall.
His military training kicked in without a single second of hesitation.
He dropped his leather briefcase onto the floor and sprinted across the room.
His heavy black boots slammed against the marble as he pushed his body to maximum speed.
He passed under the massive hanging USA flag like a dark shadow in motion.
The world seemed to slow down as Marcus threw himself forward into position.