Elena helped Clara walk slowly up the back staircase toward the guest bedroom area.
The large estate was completely quiet except for the sound of Clara's heavy, ragged breathing.
Elena: Sit down on the bed, my dear, while I fetch you a warm glass of water.
Clara: Thank you, Elena, you are the only person in this house who cares about me.
Elena: I could not stand by and let those heartless people hurt you like that today.
Clara wiped her wet cheeks with a soft tissue and looked around the luxurious room.
This mansion had felt like a dream when she married Daniel just two short years ago.
Now it felt like a cold prison designed to trap her and steal her family money.
Clara: Did you know they were planning to steal my father's trust fund all along?
Elena: I overheard them talking in the study late last night about bank documents.
Clara: What were they saying about the documents, Elena?
Elena: Mrs. Margaret said they needed your final signature to complete the transfer of ownership.
Clara remembered signing a thick stack of legal papers at the kitchen table three days ago.
Daniel had told her those papers were simple routine updates for their home insurance policy.
Clara: He lied directly to my face while holding my hand across the table.
Elena: They are desperate because the family business has been losing money for months.
Clara: My father worked his entire life to build that inheritance for my future children.
Elena walked over to the wooden closet and pulled out a large leather suitcase for Clara.
Elena: We must be very clever if we want to stop them from taking everything you own.
Clara: How can I fight them when they have expensive lawyers and so much power?
Elena: There is a hidden safe inside Mr. Daniel's private office near the main library.
Clara looked up at the maid with a sudden spark of hope in her tired eyes.
Clara: What is kept inside that private safe, Elena?
Elena: The original copies of your father's will and all the fraudulent bank transfer forms.
Clara: If I can get those documents back, I can prove their crime to the police.
Elena: Margaret keeps the key on her golden ring, but she leaves it downstairs during dinner.
Clara stood up from the bed with fresh determination running through her veins.
Clara: I will not run away like a victim tonight without fighting for my child's future.
Elena: I will keep watch near the dining room while you search the office desk.
Clara: Why are you risking your own job to help me like this, Elena?
Elena: Because my own daughter was treated badly by rich folk many years ago.
Clara gave the kind maid a quick hug before walking toward the bedroom door carefully.
The house was growing darker as the sun began to set behind the distant hills.