Clara closed her bedroom door softly and leaned her back against the wooden frame.
She could hear Victoria's heels clicking steadily against the hardwood floor outside.
The footsteps stopped right outside Clara's door, followed by a heavy silence.
Victoria did not knock, but instead turned the brass door handle very slowly.
The door swung open, revealing Victoria standing there with an icy smile on her face.
Victoria: You should not eavesdrop on adult conversations, little girl.
Clara: I was just going to my room like you told me to.
Victoria: Is that so, or were you planning to tell your father more stories?
Clara shook her head quickly, stepping backward toward her small bed.
Clara: I never tell lies to my daddy.
Victoria: Well, it does not matter what you tell him anymore.
Victoria walked over to Clara's nightstand and picked up a delicate gold locket.
The locket contained the only photograph Clara had of her late mother wearing a red dress.
Clara's face turned pale as she saw the dark-haired woman holding the tiny treasure.
Clara: Please put that down, that belongs to me!
Victoria: This old trinket is cluttering up the bedroom appearance.
Clara: My mommy gave that to me before she went to heaven!
Victoria: Your mommy is not here to protect you or this house anymore.
Victoria slid the gold locket into the side pocket of her dark blue shirt.
Clara darted forward to grab it back, but Victoria easily stepped out of reach.
Victoria: If you try to take it back, I will make sure your father locks you in here.
Clara: You are mean, I am going to tell Daddy as soon as he gets home!
Victoria: Go ahead and try, he will never believe a spoiled child over his wife.
Victoria turned around and walked out of the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
Clara sat on the edge of her bed and wiped away the fresh tears on her cheeks.
She knew she had to be strong and find a way to get her mother's locket back.
Downstairs, Mark was sitting in his corporate office reviewing heavy financial reports.
His lawyer, Richard, sat across the wide desk with a stack of legal papers.
Richard: Mark, your wife asked me to prepare these new estate transfer documents yesterday.
Mark: Victoria asked for these, why would she do that without asking me first?
Richard: She mentioned that you wanted to streamline the inheritance process for Clara.
Mark frowned deeply and picked up the thick blue folder to read the fine print.
The documents stated that in the event of any emergency, Victoria would gain total control.
She would control all family assets, bank accounts, and the entire mansion property.
Clara would be placed under a managed trust controlled exclusively by Victoria until age thirty.
Mark: This is completely different from what I originally planned with my legal team.
Richard: That is why I thought I should bring it to your attention directly today.
Mark felt a sudden knot of anxiety form deep inside his stomach.
He remembered how eagerly Victoria had offered to handle the household insurance details recently.
Mark closed the folder firmly and stood up from his leather desk chair.
Mark: Do not execute these papers under any circumstances, Richard.
Richard: Understood, Mark, I will hold off until you give me explicit written instructions.
Mark picked up his car keys and grabbed his coat off the brass stand.
He decided to head home early to speak with Victoria about these unusual document requests.