The sound of broken glass filled the silence of the massive entrance hall.
Victoria glared down at the red wine stain spreading near her white shoes.
"You are making the biggest mistake of your life!" Victoria yelled out loud.
"She tricked you into thinking she loves you for your name!"
Arthur took two large steps forward, placing himself between the two women.
"Clara never asked for a single dollar from this estate," Arthur said.
"You forced her into signed labor using threats against her legal status!"
Victoria raised her hand in a gesture of pure fury and dismissal.
"She was nothing before I took her in under my roof!"
"She is my lawful wedded wife!" Arthur roared, his voice shaking the walls.
Victoria froze completely, her eyes wide with total confusion and shock.
"What did you just say to me?" Victoria asked under her breath.
"We were married secretly six months ago before I went away," Arthur revealed.
Clara reached out and placed her small hand into Arthur's larger palm.
"We kept it quiet to protect the adoption paper filings," Clara added.
Victoria's jaw dropped as she looked at Clara's finger under the lights.
A modest diamond ring sparkled clearly against Clara's bruised skin now.
"You signed away your rights to the trust!" Victoria screamed frantically.
"No, he did not," a strong voice spoke from near the front doorway.
A man in a dark grey suit entered carrying a black leather briefcase.
It was Mr. Vance, the family's senior estate lawyer for twenty years.
"Arthur's marriage activates the secondary clause of his father's final will."
Mr. Vance walked over to the group and opened his briefcase carefully.
"All physical properties revert immediately to Arthur and his lawful spouse."
Victoria pointed a shaking finger toward the older lawyer with total rage.
"You drafted that fraud document behind my back!" Victoria shouted out loud.
"I followed the exact instructions of the late owner," Mr. Vance stated.
"You were only given temporary guardianship until Arthur married legally."
Victoria turned around quickly and grabbed Arthur by his black coat lapel.
"You cannot do this to me after everything I did!" she screamed.
Arthur pushed her hands off his coat firmly and stepped back two feet.
"Get your hands off me right now, Victoria," Arthur commanded coldly.
"You treated my wife like a common prisoner in her own home!"
Victoria looked down at Clara, her eyes burning with hatred and disgust.
"You will never be accepted in high society!" Victoria shrieked loudly.
"You are just a dirty maid who got lucky with a soft man!"
Arthur gripped his hands into tight fists at his sides to control himself.
"Leave this house before I call the local sheriff to remove you."
Victoria stomped her foot on the marble floor with pure child-like rage.
"I am not leaving my home for this pathetic servant girl!"