Mark sat completely frozen in his chair as all eyes turned toward his corner of the table.
The dark burgundy fabric of his shirt moved slightly with his heavy, nervous breathing.
Evelyn: Go ahead, Mark, tell her who really signed those trust papers last month.
Sarah looked down at her husband, holding her breath while waiting for his response.
Sarah: Tell her, Mark. Tell her what you saw in father's office that night.
Mark swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly on the edge of the dark table.
Mark: I... I promised we wouldn't bring that up today, Sarah.
Sarah: She is taking our children's future away right in front of your eyes!
Evelyn: His silence gives you your answer, dear little sister.
Evelyn raised the legal papers high into the air for everyone in the room to see.
Evelyn: The mortgage on this house is in my name, and the business belongs to me!
Sarah: You forced father to sign those papers when he was too ill to read them!
The room went dead silent as those words hung heavy in the warm air.
A woman in the back row of spectators covered her mouth in absolute shock.
Evelyn: How dare you accuse me of such a terrible thing in my own home!
Evelyn stepped forward aggressively, snatching Sarah's purse right off the back of her chair.
Sarah: Give that back to me right now, Evelyn!
Evelyn: You don't get to take anything from this house ever again!
Evelyn threw the purse toward the front entryway, scattering its contents across the marble floor.
The children started to whimpering quietly, hiding behind their mother's green sweater.
Sarah: That is it! We are leaving this house right now!
Evelyn: That is the smartest decision you have made all day, little sister.
Sarah turned around to gather her young children and head toward the scattered purse.
Evelyn: And don't bother coming back for the reading of the will on Friday!
Evelyn laughed loudly, a sharp sound that echoed off the white walls and glass partition.
Sarah: You will answer to God for what you have done to this family, Evelyn.
Evelyn: God isn't running this company, Sarah, I am!