Clara came walking down the grand staircase carrying three massive luxury leather suitcases in her hands.
She wore high dark sunglasses, trying to look composed despite the catastrophic failure of her evil plan.
"I will be staying at the luxury hotel downtown while my lawyers fix this," Clara announced proudly.
"You will be paying for every single cent of my stay, Arthur," she added with supreme confidence.
Just as she reached the bottom step, bright blue and red lights flashed through the tall front windows.
Two police cruisers pulled up along the long driveway, stopping right outside the mansion's front doors.
Four uniform police officers stepped out of their cars and walked quickly up the grand stone steps.
Clara's face turned completely pale as the heavy front doors were opened by Arthur's head security guard.
"What is the meaning of this, Arthur? Did you actually call the cops on me?" Clara shrieked.
The lead police officer stepped forward, pulling out a pair of polished steel handcuffs from his belt.
"Clara Vance, you are under arrest for attempted endangerment of a minor child," the officer stated clearly.
"This is absolute nonsense, I am a wealthy high-society woman!" Clara screamed while backing away frantically.
"We have clear high-definition video footage showing your deliberate actions, ma'am," the officer informed her sternly.
The officers grabbed Clara's arms firmly, wrapping the metallic handcuffs around her thin wrist joints tightly.
Clara struggled wildly, kicking her high heels against the marble floor and screaming hysterically at everyone.
"You cannot do this to me, my father is a powerful lawyer!" she shrieked continuously.
Elena stood near the hallway, holding small Lily tightly away from the ugly and dramatic scene.
The police led the screaming stepmother out the front doors and placed her inside the police car.
Arthur watched the police cruiser drive away down the long gated entrance drive with deep relief.
He knew the court battle would be fierce, but his daughter was finally safe from harm forever.