Clara held the smartphone firmly in her right hand at chest level.
The screen showed the preview frame of the freshly saved video.
Clara: You just admitted to altering the trust documents on tape.
Victoria: What ridiculous nonsense are you talking about right now?
Clara: My phone was recording this entire conversation from the beginning.
Eleanor stopped in her tracks, her hand freezing near her necklace.
Her face lost all its color as she looked at the device.
Eleanor: Delete that digital file immediately, Clara!
Clara: This video goes straight to my estate lawyer in twenty minutes.
Victoria lunged forward quickly to grab the phone out of her hands.
Clara took a swift step back, keeping out of Victoria's reach.
Victoria: Give me that phone before I call the security guards!
Clara: Touch me, and the police will have video of that too.
Eleanor grabbed Victoria's arm to pull her back from the door.
She realized the serious legal danger they were suddenly facing.
Eleanor: Let her leave with her silly little phone recording.
Victoria: Mom, she has us on camera talking about the contract!
Eleanor: No court will accept a hidden recording taken inside my house.
Clara: Texas is a one-party consent state for video recordings, Eleanor.
Clara turned the phone screen toward them so they could see.
The video clearly played back Victoria admitting to changing the signed papers.
Victoria stared at the screen in complete, speechless horror.
Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out this time.
Clara gathered her purse off the wooden table with her other hand.
She placed the remaining broken pearls safely inside her side pocket.
The front door opened wide as the bright sunlight rushed inside.