Richard knelt down on the white marble floor beside Elena and his resting young son.
He gently touched Liam's soft hand, tears of relief welling up in his dark eyes.
Richard: Thank you for saving my boy, Elena.
Elena: I would give my life to keep him safe from harm, sir.
Richard stood up slowly, his broad shoulders heavy with the burden of sudden betrayal.
He walked over to his private executive office located at the far end of the hall.
Elena followed him carefully while holding the sleeping infant comfortably in her arms.
Richard turned the mechanical dial on the wall safe hidden behind a large portrait painting.
The heavy steel door clicked open, revealing stacks of legal documents and velvet boxes.
Richard: She was only with me for six short months, Elena.
Elena: I always felt she had something dark to hide, Mr. Sterling.
Richard pulled out a thick yellow file folder labeled with Victoria's former legal name.
He opened the papers on his polished mahogany desk and began scanning the typed lines.
His eyes widened as he read the confidential report prepared by a private detective.
Richard: She was never who she claimed to be from the start.
Elena: What do those legal documents say about her past, sir?
Richard handed a signed birth record paper directly over to Elena's free right hand.
Elena looked closely at the bold black ink written across the official document.
Her jaw dropped as she recognized the name of the real biological mother on top.
Elena: This paper says Liam's real mother is my own missing sister!
Richard sat down heavily in his leather office chair, staring at Elena in deep shock.
Richard: Your sister Sarah disappeared from Dallas nearly two long years ago.
Elena: Victoria must have stolen these adoption papers to claim your massive estate!
The realization hit Richard like a powerful blow to the center of his chest.
Victoria had used a forged legal identity to marry him and secure his vast fortune.
She wanted control over the trust fund set aside for little baby Liam's future.
Richard: She tried to hurt him because he was the only obstacle in her path.
Elena: We must protect this child and call the local authorities immediately.
Richard picked up his desk telephone and dialed the direct line to his lawyer.
Richard: Get the police chief on the line right now, we have fraud and child endangerment.
The attorney promised to arrive at the Dallas estate within twenty short minutes.
Elena held little Liam closer, feeling a strong surge of maternal protection in her heart.
She knew that her sister's disappearance was finally beginning to make complete sense.
Victoria had trapped Sarah to take her place in the wealthy Sterling household.
Elena: My sister is still alive out there somewhere, Mr. Sterling.
Richard: We will not stop searching until we find her and bring her home safely.
The distant sound of police sirens began to echo through the tree-lined Dallas streets.