Clara stood in the center of the grand hallway and adjusted her green satin dress.
She looked up at the high ceiling of the estate that used to feel like home.
Everything inside the house had changed since her father passed away last winter.
Her stepmother Victoria now controlled every single bank account and asset.
Victoria walked down the wide hallway with slow and cold steps.
She stared at Clara with complete hatred in her narrow grey eyes.
Victoria: Why are you wearing your mother's jewelry in my house today?
Clara: This necklace was left to me in my father's legal trust.
Victoria: That trust is currently being contested in court by my attorneys.
Clara: You cannot take away the last memory I have of my mother.
Victoria: I can take whatever I want from this estate, Clara.
Victoria reached into her coat pocket and pulled out heavy wire cutters.
Clara took a quick step backward toward the high balcony railing.
Clara: Get away from me right now, Victoria!
Victoria: You think you are entitled to this vast family fortune.
Victoria stepped forward suddenly and reached for the double strand of pearls.
The metal blades snapped tight against the delicate thread with a cold click.
Dozen of smooth white pearls spilled across the polished wooden floor.
They bounced down the steps like tiny hard hail stones in a winter storm.
Clara reached out her hands to save the falling heirloom beads.
Her heels slipped on the round pearls rolling under her feet.
She lost her balance completely near the edge of the second floor balcony.
Clara: Victoria, help me grab the rail!
Victoria: You should have left this house weeks ago when I asked.
Victoria leaned forward and shoved Clara's hands away from the safety bar.
Clara tipped backward over the dark wooden railing into empty air.
She screamed loudly as the ground floor came rushing up toward her fast.
The white walls of the grand mansion seemed to spin out of control.
Down below on the marble entrance floor stood her childhood friend Leo.
Leo dropped his key ring and moved across the foyer like lightning.
He lunged forward with both arms outstretched right before she hit the tile.
The heavy impact knocked the breath straight out of his lungs upon landing.
They slid together across the cold white floor among the scattered pearls.
Clara gasped frantically for air as tears streamed down her flushed face.
Leo: Look at me, Clara! Stay with me right now!
Clara: She... she tried to destroy me, Leo!
Leo: You are safe with me now, I promise you.
Leo held her tightly against his dark leather jacket while she sobbed violently.
He looked up toward the high balcony with dark anger in his eyes.
Victoria stood above them at the railing with a completely blank face.
She showed no regret or fear as she watched them from the upper floor.
Leo: I swear I will make her pay for this crime!