Clara remained on the floor for a moment, catching her breath.
She looked across the dark marble toward her glowing mobile phone screen.
Clara: You lied to the probate judge during the first court hearing.
Victoria: The judge signed the final order, and that settles the matter.
Eleanor: We owe you no explanations about how the money was distributed.
Clara: My father loved me, and he built that business for all of us.
Victoria leaned down, her voice dropping into a harsh, bitter whisper.
Victoria: He loved my mother more than he ever loved your past.
Clara felt a tear drop from her cheek onto the marble floor.
She slowly stretched her arm out toward the dark screen resting nearby.
Her fingertips brushed against the smooth glass of the mobile phone.
Victoria did not notice the small red dot blinking on the screen.
She was too focused on shouting at Clara about the mansion's deed.
Victoria: We are selling this entire house to a private developer next week!
Clara: You cannot sell the family estate without my written consent!
Victoria: We already signed the final contract yesterday morning without you!
Eleanor stepped down the final three steps onto the ground floor.
She placed a hand on Victoria's shoulder to calm her daughter down.
Eleanor: Do not waste your breath talking about our private business deals.
Clara: That sale violates the clear terms of the original family trust.
Victoria pulled a set of house keys from her jacket pocket.
Victoria: Your key access has been revoked from the main security system.
Clara finally pulled the phone tightly into the palm of her hand.
She swiped the recording off and saved the video file safely.
The screen showed six full minutes of crystal clear video footage.
It captured every confession about the altered documents and the illegal sale.
Clara stood up slowly, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead.
She looked straight into Victoria's eyes without any remaining fear.