Arthur pulled himself up from the cold floor while gripping the thick paper envelope tightly.
He checked his infant daughter in Emma's arms to make sure she was completely safe and calm.
The baby girl stared softly up at her father with large curious brown eyes.
Two police officers stepped into the upper hallway balcony area right behind Evelyn.
They had been called to the mansion earlier regarding a reported break-in at the family office.
The officers held Evelyn's arms firmly to make sure she remained calm and stayed in place.
Evelyn: Release me this instant! You have no right to touch me in my own house!
Arthur: They are doing their job, Mother, because something very wrong is happening here today.
Arthur tore open the top wax seal of the brown envelope with his trembling right thumb.
He pulled out several pages of legal documents stamped by a official county court clerk.
The title on the top page mentioned a complete revision of the primary family estate inheritance.
Arthur scanned the lines of text as his brow furrowed deeper with every single word he read.
His mother had secretly filed legal papers to strip Emma of all parental guardianship rights.
The documents also attempted to redirect his daughter's entire future trust fund into a private account.
That private bank account was owned entirely by Evelyn's personal offshore holding corporation.
Emma: What does it say, Arthur? Please tell me what she was trying to hide from us!
Arthur: She tried to disinherit you completely and take full control over our child's future money.
Emma felt tears of anger and betrayal welling up inside her eyes as she listened to his words.
She had trusted Evelyn to treat her like a real daughter for the last five whole years.
Instead, Evelyn had been plotting behind their backs to steal the child's entire legal inheritance.
Emma: This is why you wanted my daughter gone from the family will, Evelyn!
Evelyn: I did it to protect our family empire from being ruined by a common girl like you!
Arthur: You did not do this for our family, Mother! You did this out of pure greed!
Arthur stepped closer to the base of the staircase as his knuckles turned white with fury.
The officers holding Evelyn looked down at the floor with cold serious expressions on their faces.
Evelyn tried to pull her arms free from the officers, but they held her firmly in position.
Evelyn: Arthur, you must listen to me! I am your mother and I know what is best!
Arthur: You stole from your own granddaughter before she could even learn how to walk!