Marcus reached the bottom step and signaled for the security guards to stand down.
The guards stepped back respectfully and left the family alone in the vast entryway.
Ethan was still sobbing quietly against Clara's neck while she rocked him back and forth.
Marcus walked closer and knelt on the hard marble beside his young son.
Marcus: Ethan, buddy, are you alright?
The boy did not answer his father but held onto Clara even tighter.
Marcus looked at Clara with a mix of gratitude and deep confusion in his eyes.
Marcus: How did you do that so quickly?
Clara: I spoke to his pain instead of his noise.
Marcus rubbed his forehead as a heavy sigh escaped his tired lips.
Marcus: He has been breaking things every single day this past week.
Clara: He feels overwhelmed because he thinks everyone he loves will disappear.
Marcus looked down at the floor as guilt washed over his pale face.
He had spent endless hours buried in paperwork regarding his wife's multi-million trust fund.
His wealth and high status could not protect his child from severe emotional distress.
Marcus: I have been trying to protect his inheritance and his future security.
Clara: He does not care about money right now.
She lifted Ethan gently in her arms and stood up from the floor.
The boy rested his head on her shoulder and closed his swollen eyes peacefully.
Clara: He needs to know that his dad is not going anywhere.
Marcus stood up beside her and reached out to touch Ethan's soft cheek.
The boy did not pull away from his father's hand this time.
Marcus: Thank you, Clara.
Clara: I am just doing my job, Mr. Vance.
Marcus: No, you did something nobody else in this house could achieve.
The heavy front doors opened suddenly and cut their quiet moment short.
A sharply dressed woman wearing expensive designer clothes walked into the main hall.
It was Victoria, Marcus's ambitious fiancée who managed several family investments.
She clicked her high heels loudly across the floor and frowned at Clara.
Victoria: Why is the staff holding the child like that?
Marcus turned to face his fiancée with a firm expression on his face.
Marcus: Clara was helping Ethan calm down after a very difficult morning.
Victoria scoffed and pulled off her dark sunglasses with a dismissive gesture.
Victoria: She is paid to clean the floors, not act like a mother.
Ethan whimpered slightly at the sharp tone in Victoria's loud voice.
Clara tightened her hold on the child and took a step back politely.
Clara: Excuse me, sir, I will take Ethan to his room now.
Marcus nodded at Clara as she walked past Victoria toward the main elevator.
Victoria watched Clara leave with a cold and suspicious glare in her eye.
She turned back to Marcus with a look of extreme annoyance on her face.
Victoria: We need to talk about the custody paperwork and the estate lawyer.
Marcus felt a surge of frustration rising up in his chest again.
He realized that the peaceful energy in his home was already slipping away.