Elena stood near the bright window of the large estate dining room.
She held her small son Leo quietly in her arms as he slept.
The sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains onto the polished oak table.
Her husband Arthur had passed away only two short months ago.
Since that painful day, the large house had grown quiet and cold.
Victoria: You should pack your bags before noon today.
Elena turned around slowly to face her late husband's older sister.
Victoria wore a sharp gray suit and held a thick leather folder.
Elena: Arthur wanted us to stay in this home forever.
Victoria: My brother left no valid will for this child.
Elena felt her heart skip a heavy beat in her chest.
Elena: That is simply not true and you know it.
Victoria: The legal documents name me as the sole manager.
Victoria tossed a stack of white papers onto the wooden table.
Elena: Arthur signed a full trust for his son last year.
Victoria: Show me those papers right now if they exist.
Elena knew the actual trust papers were locked inside Arthur's office.
She had searched for the office key every single morning this week.
Elena: Give me three days to speak with our family lawyer.
Victoria: You have until sunset to clear your personal belongings out.
Victoria pulled her silver pen from her pocket with a sneer.
Victoria: I am changing the gate codes early tomorrow morning.
Elena held little Leo tighter against her shoulder.
She refused to let this cruel woman see her cry today.
Elena: We are not leaving our home without a fight.
Victoria: You have no money to fight me in court.
Victoria walked out of the room with heavy clicking footsteps.
Elena looked down at her sleeping child's peaceful face.
She knew she had to find those missing papers very quickly.
The family estate was all that remained of Arthur's legacy.
She walked down the long hallway toward the private library back room.
The heavy wooden door to the private study remained firmly locked.
Elena reached into her pocket and pulled out a small hair pin.
Her hands trembled as she tried to work the old brass lock.
A soft click echoed through the empty hall after a minute.
The door swung open slowly into the dark sunlit office space.
Elena stepped inside and closed the door softly behind her.
She knew her time was running out before Victoria returned home.