Margaret stood inside the grand entryway of her Dallas mansion.
The sun shone through the tall glass windows around her.
She adjusted her beige jacket with cold hands.
Her heart beat very fast against her ribs.
She looked down at her stepdaughter with deep sadness.
Emily had walked into the house with angry eyes.
She held a stack of yellow papers in her right hand.
Those papers were legal documents from her late father.
Margaret took a slow breath to calm herself.
She loved this family for over twenty years.
She built this home with her hard work and savings.
Now Emily stood on the polished wood staircase.
Her voice echoed loudly off the high white walls.
Emily: You stole my rightful inheritance from my father!
Margaret: That is simply not true and you know it!
Emily: My lawyer said you changed his final will!
Margaret: Your father left this house to both of us!
Emily: He loved me more than he ever loved you!
Margaret stepped closer to the bottom of the grand stairs.
She felt a sharp pain in her tired chest.
She never wanted money to ruin their family peace.
Emily took two steps backward up the slippery wooden stairs.
Her high heels made a sharp tapping sound on the wood.
Her eyes were wide with pure rage and greed.
Margaret: Please listen to reason for just one minute!
Emily: I will take everything you own by next week!
Margaret: You are destroying your own future with these lies!
Emily: I do not care about your feelings anymore!
Margaret: Get out of my house right now!
Margaret pointed her finger toward the heavy front door.
Her voice sounded louder than she ever intended.
Emily gasped in surprise and backed up another step.
Her foot missed the wooden step completely.
She lost her balance and slipped backward into the air.
Margaret reached out to catch her falling dress.
Her fingers missed the fabric by just an inch.
Emily fell backward down the wooden steps very fast.
She hit the hard marble floor with a loud crash.
Her eyes closed right away as silence filled the hall.
Margaret stared at the still body on the white floor.
Her breath froze inside her throat from sudden terror.
She ran down the remaining steps as fast as possible.
Her hands shook violently as she reached out to help.
Margaret: Emily please wake up right now!
She cupped Emily's face gently with her warm palms.
Tears rolled down Margaret's cheeks without stopping.
She looked around the huge empty hallway for help.
Then the front door slammed open with great force.