Elena stood firmly between Victoria and the small trembling child on the floor.
The broken crystal pieces glittered brightly across the white marble tile floor.
Victoria smoothed down her expensive velvet dress with hands that shook slightly.
Victoria: You have no right to interfere with family matters in this house.
Elena: Locking a human child in a dark wall is not a family matter!
Victoria: That child is the secret legal heir to my late husband's trust fund.
Elena looked down at the tiny girl with big, sad eyes standing right beside her.
The child was wearing a simple pink cotton dress covered in faint dust marks.
Elena: What is your name, sweet girl?
Lily: My name is Lily, and I want my grandfather.
Elena: Where is your grandfather, Lily?
Victoria: Her grandfather is currently sitting in a downtown lawyer office signing documents!
Elena realized the dark truth behind the secret compartment instantly.
Victoria was keeping the child hidden until the legal papers were fully signed.
If the true child heir was missing, Victoria would gain total control of the mansion.
Millions of dollars in family land and cash were tied to this innocent girl.
Elena: You are stealing her legal inheritance while her grandfather searches for her!
Victoria: He thinks she went missing at the park hours ago!
Elena: You brought her here quietly through the back garage doors!
Victoria stepped forward again with a dark glare in her narrowed eyes.
Victoria: Give me the child and leave through the servant gate now.
Elena: I am never letting you touch this child again.
Elena turned on her heel and carried Lily quickly toward the heavy front door.
Victoria ran past her and slammed her back against the large wooden door.
Victoria: You are not leaving this mansion with my key to wealth!
Elena: Get out of my way right now, Victoria!
Elena raised her phone again and pressed the three numbers for emergency help.
Victoria reached out fast and knocked the phone straight out of Elena's fingers.
The small black device slid across the slick floor toward the open dining room.
Victoria: Nobody leaves this front entry until those court papers are signed!
Lily wrapped her small arms tightly around Elena's neck and began to cry again.
Lily: I am scared, Elena!
Elena: I have got you, Lily, and I will keep you safe.
Elena looked around the grand entry hall for another way out of the mansion.
The double glass doors leading to the side garden sat locked near the kitchen area.
Victoria stood guarding the main front exit with her arms crossed tightly.
Victoria: You have nowhere to run inside my house, Elena.
Elena: Justice will find you inside these walls very soon.
Elena backed away slowly toward the kitchen service hallway near the rear door.
She knew the house layout better than anyone else living in the building.
A heavy brass iron pan rested on the marble counter near the kitchen entrance.
Elena scooped up the iron pan with one arm while keeping Lily safely balance on her hip.
Elena: Step away from that back door key or I will use this!
Victoria paused as she saw the dark iron metal shining in Elena's strong hand.
Victoria: You would not dare hit me, Elena!
Elena: Try me if you want to test how far a mother will go!