Evelyn took a small step backward toward the grand marble staircase railings.
Her hands began to tremble as she looked away from the high-definition monitor.
Evelyn: The angle on that camera is completely misleading my dear son.
Richard: The video shows your hands opening up and pushing it off!
Elena: I only ran across the room because I saw it drop.
Richard looked at Elena with deep regret filling his dark tired eyes.
He realized how close he had come to ruining an innocent person's life.
He turned back to his mother with a deeply disappointed and stern face.
Richard: Why would you set up our loyal housekeeper like this today?
Evelyn held her head high but could not hide her growing nervous pale face.
Evelyn: She knows too much about the family financial papers in the study!
Maya: Grandma tried to blame Elena for the missing key last week too.
Richard turned quickly toward his young daughter with growing concern and curiosity.
Richard: What missing key are you talking about Maya, tell me now.
Maya: Grandma opened the locked wall safe in your office on Tuesday morning.
Elena gasped softly as she recalled finding the office door unlocked earlier.
She had assumed the master of the house had simply forgotten to lock it.
Richard rubbed his temples as pieces of the puzzle began fitting together nicely.
He had noticed missing estate documents from his private desk three days ago.
He had almost blamed the cleaning staff until now for the missing papers.
Richard: You staged this whole accident so I would fire Elena immediately.
Evelyn: She was snooping around my personal business in the east wing!
Elena: I was only dusting the bookshelves like I was ordered to do.
Richard: Stop lying to me mother, the camera evidence does not lie.
Evelyn closed her eyes tightly as her plan completely unraveled before everyone.
The wealthy man walked slowly over to Elena and stood directly before her.
He looked down at the floor in deep shame for his harsh words.
Richard: I owe you a sincere apology for shouting at you earlier.
Elena: I appreciate your words sir, I only wanted the truth known.