The heavy white and gold double doors opened wide as Detective Harris walked into the grand hallway, flanked by four uniformed police officers and a state prosecutor.
Detective Harris: Mr. Montgomery? We have the arrest warrants signed by the magistrate judge.
Julian: She is right there on the floor, Detective.
Evelyn: Get away from me! Do you know who I am?! I am Evelyn Montgomery!
Detective Harris: You are Evelyn Reed, ma'am. And you are under arrest for federal child trafficking, grand forgery, corporate fraud, and illegal confinement.
Two officers stepped forward, grabbing Evelyn by her arms and pulling her up from the floor. The cold steel handcuffs clicked sharply around her wrists behind her royal blue gown.
Evelyn: Julian! Tell them to stop! You can't let them take me to a public holding cell!
Julian: You spent seven years keeping a mother away from her children, Evelyn. You will spend the next twenty years behind iron bars thinking about what you stole.
Evelyn: Clara! You miserable little maid! You ruined my life!
Clara: You ruined your own life the day you decided money was worth more than a child's soul, Evelyn.
The officers turned Evelyn around, escorting her down the long checkered corridor toward the main entrance. High-society house staff and estate security stood along the walls, watching in complete silence as the former mistress of the palace was led away in handcuffs.
Her blue gown dragged across the marble floor, her manicured nails digging into the officer's sleeve as she thrashed against their grip.
Evelyn: You'll pay for this! All of you! My lawyers will have me out by morning!
Detective Harris: Dr. Harrison just gave a full written confession in Florida, Miss Reed. Your lawyers aren't going to save you from a twenty-year sentence.
The heavy oak front doors closed with a firm, resounding thud, cutting off her shrill shouting forever.
Inside the quiet, warm hallway, Julian stood up, holding Clara's hand as he looked down at his twin sons.
Julian: Arthur, please take the boys upstairs to the master suite and prepare some warm milk for them.
Arthur: Right away, Mr. Montgomery. Come along, young masters.
Leo: Mommy Clara, are you coming up soon?
Clara: I will be right up, sweetie. Go with Arthur.
The boys smiled brightly, taking the head butler's hands as they hurried up the grand curved staircase, their white silk pajamas glowing under the crystal chandeliers.