A narrow door beneath the grand staircase rattled loudly against its metal frame.
The heavy iron latch creaked open as someone pushed hard against the frame.
A young woman in a torn black and white maid uniform stumbled into the hall.
It was Elena, the faithful housemaid who worked for the family for three years.
Her face was pale, her dark hair tangled, and her hands trembled uncontrollably.
She collapsed onto her knees near the edge of the polished marble floor.
Carter looked over at her in utter disbelief as he stayed beside Evelyn.
Carter: Elena! Where have you been for the past four days?
Elena: She locked me up in the basement pantry, Carter!
Chloe rushed down the curved stairs, her heels clicking loudly on the marble.
Chloe: Don't listen to a single word this lying maid tells you!
Elena: She locked me inside and starved me without any food or water!
Chloe: She was stealing silver from the dining room, Carter, I trapped her!
Elena pulled herself up using the wooden bannister for balance and support.
She ignored Chloe and limped straight toward Carter and his injured mother.
Elena: I am not a thief, Carter, I was trying to protect your mother.
Carter: Why would Chloe ever put you inside that pantry, Elena?
Elena: Because I caught her changing your mother's daily medications on Tuesday.
Chloe walked over to Elena and raised her hand in absolute fury.
Chloe: Shut your mouth right now before I throw you out on the street!
Carter jumped to his feet and grabbed Chloe's wrist firmly in mid-air.
Carter: Do not lay a single finger on her, Chloe.
Chloe: Carter, she is making up stories to get money out of us!
Elena: I am not lying, Carter, look at what I found in Chloe's coat!
Elena reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a tightly folded white paper.
Her hands shook as she held the document out toward the handsome businessman.
Elena: Carter, I just found this inside Chloe's red pocket this morning.
Carter released Chloe's wrist and took the paper straight from Elena's fingers.
Chloe reached out frantically to grab the paper back from his grasp.
Chloe: Give that back to me, Carter, that is my private personal mail!
Carter pushed Chloe back with one firm hand and opened the folded paper.