Richard took the small colorful sticker from Mia's open palm.
It was a blue butterfly badge from Clara's local university law program.
He remembered seeing Clara wearing that exact pin on her jacket earlier that week.
Richard: Why did Clara drop this under the foyer couch, Mark?
Mark: She probably dropped it while taking money from your desk.
Mia: No, uncle Mark took her folder and pushed her out!
The room went entirely silent as the grand pendulum clock chimed eight times.
Mark's face turned completely pale under the warm foyer chandelier lights.
Chloe: Children say random things all the time, Richard.
Richard: Mia does not lie about what she sees with her eyes.
Richard stood up slowly and fixed a stern gaze on his adult son.
He walked toward the massive wooden desk near the tall stained-glass windows.
He picked up the internal security phone receiver with a steady hand.
Mark: Who are you calling right now, Dad?
Richard: I am calling head of security to review yesterday's hallway video logs.
Chloe gasped quietly and stepped backward toward the front entry doors.
Chloe: Mark, we need to leave for the office right now.
Richard: Nobody leaves this foyer until I get a complete explanation.
Mark stepped forward and blocked his father's path across the floor.
Mark: Dad, don't make this public in front of everyone!
Richard: What did you do to Clara and her mother?
Mark: We did what was necessary to protect the Sterling family estate!
Richard stared at his son with utter shock and rising fury.
He realized his son had planned something terrible behind his back.
Richard: You framed an innocent girl to cover up your own mess.
Mark: She found out about the offshore account transfers!
Chloe grabbed Mark's arm with a desperate look on her face.
Chloe: Keep your voice down before the staff hears you!
Richard: Let the whole city hear what kind of coward you are!
Richard swung his arm in absolute anger, slamming his heavy hand against the side table.
The force knocked over a heavy equipment display frame onto the marble floor.
The metal frame crashed with a loud racket that echoed through the mansion.
Chloe tripped backward over a low decorative panel in terror.
Mark stumbled back and hit the edge of the fallen equipment display.
He sat propped against the fallen wooden boards with wide, terrified eyes.
Mark: Please, Dad, just hear me out!