The giant American flag hung proudly beside the grand mahogany staircase.
Elena stood firmly under the shadow of the massive banner.
Victoria reached out and grabbed Elena by the arm to stop her from moving.
Elena: Take your hands off me right now, Victoria!
Victoria: You will give me what I want or you leave with nothing!
Elena pulled herself away and dropped down to shield her child.
She sat on the polished floor, cradling her crying boy gently.
Her heart was pounding violently inside her chest from the sudden hostility.
Elena: You are completely out of your mind!
Victoria: I am saving this family fortune from an outsider like you!
Victoria pointed an angry finger directly down at Elena's trembling face.
She demanded that Elena sign over the child's legal inheritance papers.
Elena shook her head repeatedly while holding her crying son close.
Elena: I will never sign anything without my husband present!
Victoria: Then you leave me no choice but to force you out today.
In the struggle, a delicate pearl earring slid off Elena's ear lobe.
The precious earring dropped down to the hard wooden floorboards.
It bounced with a sharp rattling sound across the quiet foyer floor.
The small sound seemed to echo off the high vaulted ceilings of the mansion.
Elena wiped a tear from her cheek as she looked up at her tormentor.
Elena: Victor will ruin you when he finds out what you did!
Victoria: Victor will believe whatever story I choose to tell him!
Victoria laughed coldly as she stepped over the scattered pearl jewelry.
She reached down to grab Elena's purse off the nearby sofa table.
Elena squeezed her child tightly and prayed for someone to help them.
She knew she had to stand strong for the sake of her family.