The grand foyer of the Vance estate was filled with bright morning light.
Marble floors gleamed under the massive crystal chandelier hanging high above the entrance.
An elderly woman named Chloe Vance sat motionless in her wooden wheelchair on the second-floor balcony.
She looked down at the empty marble hall with tired, weary eyes.
Behind her stood Victoria, dressed in a sharp red dress that stood out against the white walls.
Victoria watched the old woman with a cold and calculating stare.
She leaned closer to the wheelchair, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper.
Victoria: You have lived in this mansion far too long, Chloe.
Chloe tried to turn her head, but her hands trembled against her lap blanket.
Chloe: My grandson Carter will be home soon, Victoria.
Victoria: Carter does not know what is best for this family estate.
Victoria reached out and gripped the handles of the heavy wooden wheelchair.
She gave the chair a sharp, sudden push forward toward the steep marble staircase.
The wheels tipped over the high top step with a sudden metallic rattle.
The chair tipped forward, sending Chloe sliding down the carpeted upper steps onto the hard floor below.
The heavy wheelchair clattered down the staircase, crashing hard against the bottom marble pillar.
Chloe lay still beside the bottom step, her eyes closed tight in pain.
Victoria stepped right up to the balcony railing and looked down with a calm smile.
Victoria: You're still alive? What a pity.
She adjusted her red sleeves and took a quiet breath.
She turned on her heel and started walking slowly toward the rear office.
The front doors suddenly burst open with a sudden rush of cool wind.
Carter Vance rushed into the foyer holding his dark leather briefcase.
Beside him was Lily, the young house maid wearing her simple gray uniform.
Lily gasped loudly as her eyes fell upon the still figure near the stairs.
Lily: Oh my goodness, Mrs. Chloe!
Carter dropped his briefcase right onto the polished marble floor.
He sprinted across the massive room and dropped to his knees beside his grandmother.
Carter: Grandmother, can you hear me?
Lily knelt quickly on the other side, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
Lily: She was left alone up there, Carter!
Carter reached for his phone to call emergency services immediately.
Lily reached into the heavy coat Chloe was wearing to check for warmth.
Her fingers brushed against a thick paper hidden inside the inner lining.
She pulled out a folded official document stamped with a red seal.
Lily: She locked me up and starved me! Carter, I just found this in Chloe's pocket!
Carter snatched the document from Lily's trembling hand and unfolded it.
His eyes scanned the heavy black ink across the top heading.
Carter: The cremation is today?!
His voice echoed loudly off the high marble walls of the quiet foyer.