Victoria backed away toward the grand marble pillars in the center hallway.
Her heels made a sharp clicking sound against the smooth white surface.
Victoria: You are destroying our family name over a pile of paperwork!
Julian: You destroyed this family when you chose greed over love.
Attorney Vance: The police officer at the front gate just radioed for entry permission.
Victoria dropped her heavy handbag onto the marble floor with a loud thud.
Papers scattered across the polished floor in every direction around her feet.
Victoria: Please do not let them arrest me inside this home, Julian!
Julian: You need to take full responsibility for what you tried to do today.
Elena walked back down the upper hallway and watched from the wooden balcony.
She held the quiet child securely against her shoulder in the bright sunlight.
Elena: The truth was always going to come out, Victoria.
Victoria: You were just hired to wash clothes and change diapers here!
Julian: She showed more integrity and care than you ever did, Victoria.
Two uniformed police officers walked through the tall glass entry doors.
They looked around the grand room and stepped directly toward Attorney Vance.
Officer Davis: We received a report regarding falsified trust documents and fraud.
Attorney Vance: The evidence and primary witness statements are ready right here.
Victoria sank down onto the cushioned hallway bench and closed her eyes tight.
The pride and anger seemed to leave her body all at once.
Victoria: I am so sorry, Julian, I was just scared of being left with nothing.
Julian: You would have had plenty if you had just been honest from the start.
The senior officer stepped forward and spoke to Victoria in a calm voice.
Officer Davis: Ma'am, we need you to come with us to the precinct station now.
Victoria stood up slowly and followed the officers toward the front doorway.
She did not look back at her brother or the staircase as she left.