Evelyn turned around in anger and stormed out through the side wooden gate.
The heavy latch slammed shut behind her with a loud click.
Mark sank down onto the patio chair to check his burn wound.
Sarah brought out a wet towel and tenderly pressed it against his shoulder.
"We need to call the authorities," Sarah whispered gently.
"I need to know why she was so desperate today," Mark said grimly.
He pointed toward the partially burned folder near the stone fire pit.
Sarah walked carefully to the pit and retrieved the remaining papers.
Among the charred pages, she noticed an unfamiliar bank document.
It was not Mark's account statement at all.
It was an official notice of a massive secret loan taken out under the estate name.
Sarah brought the scorched paper directly to her husband.
"Mark, look at this date," Sarah pointed out with a steady hand.
Mark read the loan agreement and his eyes widened in total disbelief.
Evelyn had secretly borrowed against the family property two years ago.
She was using the inheritance trust money to cover her own personal debts.
"She wasn't trying to protect our family line," Mark realized softly.
"She was trying to hide her own financial fraud before I discovered it," he added.
Sarah put her hand softly on his knee in comfort.
"She knew you were updating the trustee papers today," Sarah noted.
"If I signed those updated papers, her secret would have been exposed immediately," Mark said.
The entire picture of her cruelty now became crystal clear to both of them.
The constant insults and arguments were all part of her plan to keep Sarah isolated.
Mark held his daughter's small hand while tears filled his eyes.
"I will not let her ruin our future anymore," Mark declared firmly.