The distant sound of emergency sirens began to ring out down the long driveway.
Elena backed up against the black grand piano while her breath came in short gasps.
She realized that the police would search her bag as soon as they arrived.
Elena: She was going to ruin everything we built together, Dante!
Dante: You thought you were replacing her in this house and business!
Elena: She refused to sign the trust fund papers for our future wedding!
Dante stared at Elena as the terrible reality of her actions hit him hard.
He had met Elena six months ago at a high-society charity gala downtown.
She had presented herself as a wealthy woman with successful real estate holdings.
However, Mrs. Vance had always suspected that Elena was hiding her true background.
Mrs. Vance had recently hired a private investigator to check Elena's financial past.
Dante remembered that his mother was scheduled to receive that report this very afternoon.
Dante: My mother found out who you really are, didn't she?
Elena: She was a paranoid old woman who hated me from the start!
Clara: Mrs. Vance only wanted to protect her son from a liar!
Elena glared at Clara with pure hatred burning in her bright eyes.
Elena: You are just a servant who should have stayed in the kitchen!
Dante: Do not speak to her like that in my house ever again!
Dante walked over to the small table and picked up the half-empty teacup.
He saw tiny white particles floating near the bottom of the warm liquid.
He set the cup down carefully on a high shelf away from everyone.
Two paramedics rushed into the living room carrying heavy medical equipment bags.
They immediately knelt beside Mrs. Vance to check her breathing and weak pulse.
Paramedic: She is alive but her blood pressure is dangerously low right now.
Dante: Please save her! I think she was poisoned a few minutes ago.
The paramedics worked quickly to place an oxygen mask over the old woman's face.
They lifted Mrs. Vance onto a rolling stretcher to rush her to the hospital.
Two police officers stepped into the bright living room right behind the paramedics.
They looked at the broken glass, the bleeding maid, and the tense argument.
Police Officer: Nobody leave this room until we understand what happened here.
Elena tried to slide behind the officer toward the open front entrance door.
Clara stood up quickly despite the sharp pain in her bare right foot.
Clara: Officer, that woman has the poison bottle inside her handbag right now!
The police officer immediately stepped into Elena's path to stop her movement.
Police Officer: Ma'am, set the bag on the table and step back immediately.