The morning sun cut through the heavy drapes of the Dallas mansion.
Veronica adjusted her purple satin dress in the tall gold mirror.
She had lived in this house for over twenty long years.
Her late husband had left her the grand estate on Turtle Creek.
However, the family trust fund came with very strict legal conditions.
Her stepdaughter Clara was due to inherit the entire fortune next month.
Clara was eight months pregnant with a healthy young baby boy.
If Clara reached her twenty-fifth birthday, the whole estate transferred completely.
Veronica knew her own time in the mansion was growing short.
She walked out toward the wide marble staircase with a heavy heart.
Downstairs, the high double doors slammed open with a sudden bang.
Clara walked inside carrying several heavy legal files from her lawyer.
The young pregnant woman looked up at Veronica with clear suspicion.
They had never seen eye to eye since the original will reading.
Veronica took a deep breath and began descending the grand stairs.
She wanted to talk about the upcoming family business meeting today.
Clara stepped onto the bottom landing with a look of pure defiance.
The giant framed American flag hung proudly on the high white wall.
Everything in this grand house seemed to scream power and massive wealth.
Veronica stopped three steps from the top of the grand staircase.
She called down to Clara in a calm and polite tone.
Clara raised her hand and yelled back with intense anger instead.
She claimed Veronica had been stealing from the estate bank account.
Veronica gasped at the sharp accusation coming from her pregnant stepdaughter.
She hurried down a few steps to hand over the paperwork.
Clara suddenly slipped on the polished slippery marble at the bottom.
She tumbled backward onto the soft rug near the front door.
Veronica gasped aloud in absolute shock at the sudden scary sight.
She held her chest as her hands began to shake wildly.
Before Veronica could speak, the front doors burst open once more.
Mark marched into the foyer with an intense look of rage.