Daniel rushed around the corner and saw his young son crying on the floor.
His eyes widened in shock when he saw his wife standing over the little boy.
Daniel was a wealthy businessman who loved his family more than anything on earth.
He had spent years building a successful company to give them a good life.
He dropped his leather briefcase onto the floor with a loud thud.
He hurried forward and scooped his sobbing son up into his strong arms.
Leo buried his small face into his father's shoulder and cried uncontrollably.
He held onto his father's shirt with all the strength he had left.
Daniel wrapped his arms protectively around his child and held him tight.
He looked up at Vanessa with pure fury burning in his dark eyes.
He asked his wife why his son was crying on the cold floor.
Vanessa stepped back quickly and tried to pull a fake smile onto her face.
She claimed that Leo was just throwing a childish tantrum over a game.
She said the boy was lying and being disobedient for no real reason.
Leo raised his head from his father's shoulder and shook his head wildly.
He sobbed out that Vanessa had trapped his grandmother inside the vault.
He pointed directly at the massive steel wheel on the heavy door.
Daniel felt his heart sink into his chest as he heard those words.
His mother was an elderly woman who suffered from serious health issues.
She required daily medication and could not survive long in an airtight space.
Daniel turned his head and stared directly at his wife with intense anger.
He warned Vanessa never to lay a hand on his son ever again.
His voice was low and dangerous as he set Leo down on his feet.
Vanessa began stammering fast while backing away toward the American flag.
She claimed that the old woman had walked into the vault all by herself.
She said the lock must have slipped accidentally without anyone noticing.
Daniel did not believe a single word coming out of Vanessa's mouth.
He knew the vault had a complex mechanical lock that required human effort.
It was impossible for the heavy steel wheel to turn on its own.
He stepped toward the vault with long and powerful strides.
Vanessa tried to step in front of him to block his path.
She begged him to calm down and listen to her explanation first.
Daniel pushed past her without hesitation and grabbed the vault wheel.
He put his hands on the heavy handles and began to turn them.
The steel gears inside the door began to grind and click loudly.
Vanessa watched in complete horror as the thick lock unlatched.
She knew that her terrible plot was about to be exposed completely.
She looked around the grand hallway as if searching for an escape route.
Leo stood behind his father and waited for his grandmother to appear.