By afternoon, the sun hit the grand staircase with sharp beams of golden light.
Clara dressed in her cream silk gown and carried her baby into the main hall.
She knew that today was the day when all the hidden secrets would finally surface.
Mark stood near the entrance doors, watching his mother step out onto the upper balcony.
Evelyn looked down at them with an arrogant smile resting on her wrinkled face.
She held a legal notice from the estate lawyers threatening immediate eviction from the property.
Evelyn: Your time in this house has officially expired, Clara.
Clara: You have no right to throw us out on the street!
Evelyn: This mansion belongs to the true head of this family line.
Mark: That baby is the legitimate legal heir, Mother.
Evelyn: He is nothing to this family legacy!
Evelyn suddenly dropped the thick legal folder right over the high wooden balcony rail.
The heavy papers scattered into the air and fell toward the hard floor below.
Clara gasped in fear and pulled her child back away from the falling debris.
Mark lunged forward quickly across the polished marble floor to shield his young family.
He slid onto his knees and safely covered Clara and the baby from the drop.
The loud crash of falling folders echoed loudly throughout the empty double-height foyer space.
Clara held her baby tightly while her heart pounded wildly inside her chest frame.
She looked up at the balcony where Evelyn was laughing softly in complete delight.
Clara: Stop, you are going to hurt someone with your madness!
Evelyn: You think you can stop me from claiming what is mine?
Clara: You will pay for what you tried to do today!
Evelyn: Think you can stop me with your empty threats?
Clara stood up slowly, her cream gown brushing gracefully against the dark marble floor.
She reached inside her small purse and pulled out a thick brown legal envelope.
The gold seal on the official envelope caught the bright daylight coming through windows.
Mark rose to his feet beside her, looking closely at the document in her hand.
He had not seen this official package arrive at the mansion earlier that morning.
Evelyn stopped laughing as her eyes locked onto the certified legal markings on paper.
A sudden silence fell over the massive room as the air became very heavy.
Clara raised her head high and looked directly into Evelyn's cold dark eyes.
She held the envelope up firmly for everyone in the room to see clearly.
Clara: I hired an independent legal investigator three weeks ago.
Mark: What did you find out, Clara?
Clara: The truth about who really belongs in this house.
Evelyn: That paper is just meaningless garbage and lies!
Clara broke the legal paper seal with a crisp rustling sound that echoed around.
She drew out the official court-certified documents printed on heavy white paper sheets.
The bright light highlighted the red official stamps placed across the bottom margins.
Evelyn leaned over the balcony railing slightly, her confident stance beginning to weaken.
The arrogant smile completely disappeared from her face as she watched Clara read.