The quiet mansion felt suddenly cold, as if the winter rain had crept indoors.
Carter stood up straight, towering over Chloe with a dangerous, quiet anger.
Carter: Give me one good reason why I should not call the police.
Chloe stepped back, her high heels clicking loudly against the polished marble floor.
Chloe: Carter, darling, you are making a giant mistake over nothing at all.
Carter: Do not call me darling ever again, Chloe.
He turned his back on her and helped Maria stand up carefully.
Carter: Go to the kitchen, Maria, and get yourself some dry clothes immediately.
Maria: Thank you, Mr. Carter. The papers are safe inside the hidden wall.
Maria walked away slowly, keeping her head low as she entered the side hall.
Carter turned back to face Chloe, holding the vintage key in his right hand.
Carter: This key belonged to my father's private collection in the library.
Chloe: Your father was sick during his last weeks, Carter. He made mistakes.
Carter: My father was sharper than anyone in this entire city, Chloe.
He walked past her toward the grand library located at the end of the hall.
Chloe hurried behind him, her golden dress rustling with every quick step.
Chloe: If you open that safe, you will ruin everything we built together!
Carter: You mean everything you tried to steal from my family business?
He pushed open the heavy oak doors leading into his father's old private office.
The room smelled of old leather books, rich wood polish, and history.
A large oil portrait of his father hung proudly above the brick fireplace.
Carter walked straight toward the wooden bookshelf standing against the far wall.
He reached behind a set of encyclopedias and found a small hidden keyhole.
The key fit perfectly into the ancient brass lock with a soft click.
He turned the key smoothly to the left, releasing a small iron latch.
The bookshelf swung open slowly, revealing a concealed metal safe inside the wall.
Chloe gasped loudly from the doorway, her face losing all its color.
Chloe: You cannot open that safe without a full court order from a judge!
Carter: This is my house, Chloe, and this is my father's safe.
He pulled open the heavy steel door, exposing stacks of official legal documents.
Right on top lay a yellow folder tied with a thick red silk ribbon.
The label on the front read clearly in dark black ink: Master Will.
Carter picked up the folder carefully, his fingers feeling the smooth aged paper.
He untied the ribbon and pulled out the thick stack of typed papers inside.
His eyes scanned the first page quickly, catching the official seal at the bottom.
Carter: This will was signed just three days before my father died.
Chloe: That paper is fake! It has no legal value at all!
Carter: It was notarized by our family estate lawyer, Chloe.
He read the main clause out loud, his voice sounding firm and strong.
Carter: Everything goes to a private trust managed solely by my son, Carter.