Arthur stared down at the small glass screen held in his trembling hand.
The video clip played clearly, showing the hallway from two days ago.
Victoria was seen yelling at Clara and knocking a tray from her hands.
The clip showed Victoria pushing Clara roughly against the solid wood wall.
Arthur closed his eyes for a brief second as pure rage took over.
He looked up from the phone and locked eyes with the older woman.
Victoria lowered her wine glass slightly, her confident smile fading fast away.
"What is on that phone?" she asked, trying to sound completely indifferent.
"You lied to me," Arthur said, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone.
"You told me Clara was taking a long rest in her room."
"She is lazy, Arthur!" Victoria snapped back, stepping off the bottom stair.
"She spent all morning sleeping instead of managing the household duties!"
"Look at her face, Victoria!" Arthur shouted, pointing his finger forward.
"Did she give herself those terrible marks while resting in her bed?"
Victoria shifted her weight nervously on her sharp designer shoes.
"She is clumsy and fell down near the garden gate yesterday afternoon."
Clara let out a small sob and buried her face in her hands.
"That is not true, Arthur," Clara whispered quietly through her tears.
"She took my phone away so I could not call you for help."
Arthur moved past his suitcase and walked directly toward his stepmother.
Victoria backed up a step until her shoe touched the glass bottom riser.
"Do not take her side over mine," Victoria warned with a narrow glare.
"I am the head of this trust fund until you turn thirty."
"I do not care about the money anymore!" Arthur yelled back loudly.
"You crossed a line the moment you put hands on this woman!"
Victoria snorted softly and crossed her arms over her champagne dress.
"She is nobody, Arthur," Victoria sneered with total contempt in her voice.
"She came here looking for hand-outs because her father left nothing behind."
Arthur pulled Clara up gently by her arms, helping her stand up straight.
Clara leaned against him, her body shivering from the intense cold fear.
"Her father owned half of this business before he passed away," Arthur said.
"And you spent two years trying to hide that legal inheritance from her!"
Victoria gasped sharply as the truth hung heavy in the massive hallway.
"You have no proof of any legal documents!" Victoria yelled out wildly.
"The court settled that matter years ago in my favor!"
Arthur reached into his coat and pulled out a folded white paper document.
"The real will was filed in county court early this morning, Victoria."
Victoria stepped back into the open space of the wide white hallway.
Her face lost all its color as she realized her plan was failing.
"This mansion does not belong to you anymore," Arthur stated clearly.
"It belongs entirely to Clara and our growing family starting right now."
Victoria dropped her wine glass onto the hard floor, breaking it instantly.
The red liquid pooled around her feet like a dark spilled secret.
"You are throwing away your own family for her?" Victoria shouted angrily.
"You are not my family," Arthur replied, holding Clara tightly beside him.