The grand estate sat on top of the green hill overlooking the entire valley.
It was a massive house built with solid stone and heavy oak doors.
David had lived in the shadow of this house for almost ten years.
He carried his young daughter Lily through the front entrance with deep care.
The air inside always smelled like old furniture and expensive flower petals.
Margarethe stood near the fireplace with a glass of ice water in her hand.
She looked down her nose at the small child walking behind David.
Margarethe: Why did you bring that girl into my living room today?
David: Lily lives here now because this is her true home.
Margarethe: This house belongs to the family estate and nobody else.
David set his leather bag down on the wooden side table near the hall.
David: My father left this house to me in his final written paper.
Margarethe: That will is being contested by my high priced law firm.
David: You cannot kick us out of our own family home, stepmother.
Lily squeezed her father's hand tightly as she looked around the dark foyer.
She wore a simple blue dress with a small red jewel on her chest.
The bright ruby pendant sparkled under the large glass light hanging overhead.
Margarethe noticed the red stone immediately and pulled her lips into a line.
Margarethe: Where did she get that red stone around her neck?
David: Her mother gave it to her before she passed away last year.
Margarethe: That stone belongs in the family vault upstairs right now.
David: It belonged to Sarah and now it belongs to her daughter.
Margarethe took two step forward across the wide marble rug.
Margarethe: Sarah took things from this family that did not belong to her.
David: Do not speak about my late wife in that mean tone.
Lily hid slightly behind her father's dark leather coat in silence.
Lily: Is the mean lady going to make us leave now, Daddy?
David: Nobody is making us leave this house today or any day.
Margarethe turned around and walked toward the tall curved stairs.
Margarethe: We will see what the judge says about the trust fund later.
David: The trust fund was created for Lily by my late father.
Margarethe: Your father was not in his right mind during those months.
David squeezed his eyes shut to control the anger inside his head.
He knew his stepmother had tried to alter the legal papers twice.
She wanted the entire inheritance money for her own biological son.
David: My father knew exactly what he was doing with his estate.
Margarethe: You think you are so smart with your cheap leather coat.
David: I am smart enough to protect my daughter from your games.
Lily looked up at the large picture frame hanging on the white wall.
It showed an older man with kind eyes holding a silver pocket watch.
Lily: Is that my grandfather up there on the wall, Daddy?
David: Yes sweetheart, that was your grandfather who loved you very much.
Margarethe: He never even met the girl before he closed his eyes!
David: That is a lie and you know it very well, Margarethe.
Margarethe stopped at the bottom step and glared right at David.
Margarethe: You have until Friday to pack your bags and go away.
David: We are not going anywhere until the final court hearing ends.
The thick front door closed as the wind began to blow outside hard.
David knew the battle for the mansion was only just beginning today.