Clara stood near the tall iron gates of the luxury estate with tears in her eyes.
The afternoon sun beat down on the wide paved driveway of the mountain home.
She held her small overnight bag tightly against her side.
Her husband Daniel stood on the upper stone balcony looking down at her.
His mother Evelyn stood right beside him with a cold stare.
Clara: Daniel, please open the gate and let me inside!
Daniel: You do not belong in this family anymore, Clara.
Clara: I am your wife and I am carrying your child!
Evelyn: That child will never see a dime of our family money.
Clara took a step closer to the heavy iron gate.
Her hands trembled as she pressed them against the cold metal bars.
The maid Sarah watched from the open front doorway with deep concern.
Sarah wanted to help, but she feared losing her job.
Sarah: Please, Mr. Daniel, let her come inside to rest.
Daniel: Go back inside the kitchen and do your work, Sarah.
Clara: Why are you doing this to me after everything we built?
Evelyn: My late husband made a terrible mistake in his final days.
Evelyn: He thought you were a sweet girl who loved our family.
Daniel: But we know you only married me for the trust fund.
Clara gasped in total disbelief at his cruel words.
She had loved Daniel since their first college class together in Boston.
They had spent five years building a simple life before his father passed away.
Now the entire massive estate was worth millions of dollars.
Clara: You know that is not true, Daniel!
Clara: I loved you when we lived in that small studio apartment.
Daniel: Things have changed now that the estate is settled.
Evelyn: Change your attitude or you will leave with nothing at all.
Sarah stepped out onto the porch with a glass of cold water.
She looked up at Evelyn with fear in her eyes.
Sarah: Mrs. Evelyn, she needs water in her condition.
Evelyn: Step away from the gate right now, Sarah.
Clara felt a sharp pain of sorrow deep in her chest.
She looked up at the prominent American flag hanging near the front balcony.
The flag fluttered gently in the cool afternoon breeze.
Her father-in-law had hung that flag with pride last summer.
He was an honest man who believed in fair justice and family honor.
He had promised Clara that his grandchild would always be protected.
Clara: Your father would be ashamed of what you are doing today.
Daniel: My father is gone and I run this estate now.
Evelyn: The lawyers will call you tomorrow morning with the divorce papers.
Clara: I will not sign anything until I speak with the attorney.
Daniel pulled a key ring from his pocket and locked the side gate.
He walked away from the railing without looking back once.
Evelyn gave a slow satisfied smile and followed her son inside.
Sarah rushed over to the fence as soon as they were gone.
Sarah: Clara, take my phone and call your uncle right away.
Clara: Thank you, Sarah, but I need to find the original papers.
Sarah: The papers are hidden inside the library safe upstairs.
Clara: I will get back inside that house tonight no matter what.