Evelyn stepped closer to Clara, blocking the path back toward the wide hallway.
Her hand gripped the top of the white marble railing with intense force.
Evelyn: You don't belong in this family!
Clara: Please, Evelyn, just listen to me for one second!
Evelyn reached out and grabbed Clara's arm aggressively near the edge of the drop.
Clara gasped in fear, trying to pull her arm back from the older woman's grip.
Clara: Let go of me! You are hurting my arm!
Evelyn: You will sign the surrender documents or leave this town forever!
Clara pulled back sharply, but her foot slipped slightly on the smooth floor tiles.
She lost her balance near the open section of the upper railing.
Evelyn shoved Clara's shoulder forward in a sudden moment of blind anger.
Clara screamed loudly as she felt herself falling backward over the edge.
The sound of her terrified voice echoed wildly through the massive atrium space.
Down in the main hallway, Julian froze as he heard the desperate scream.
He dropped his mobile phone onto the floor without thinking twice.
Julian: I'm coming!
Julian sprinted through the hallway toward the grand atrium with incredible speed.
His shoes slid across the marble floor as he rounded the corner.
He looked up and saw Clara falling from the balcony ledge above.
Time seemed to freeze as his instincts kicked into absolute overdrive.
Julian threw his body forward in a mid-air dive across the floor.
He caught Clara into his chest right before she hit the hard ground.
A heavy landing impact slammed through Julian's back as they hit the floor.
He slid several feet across the floor under the massive framed American flag.
Dust kicked up around them as the sound of the crash settled down.
Julian gasped for air, holding Clara tight against his body to protect her.
Julian: Are you okay? Please tell me you are okay!
Clara clutched her baby bump with shaking fingers, tears streaming down her face.
Clara: Save my baby! Please save my baby!
Up on the balcony, Evelyn leaned over the white railing looking down in shock.
Her face was completely pale as she stared at the scene below.
Evelyn: No! Impossible!
She had not expected Julian to reach the floor in time to catch her.
Julian looked up toward the top of the stairs, his eyes filled with rage.
Julian: You monster!
Evelyn stepped back from the railing, her hands trembling uncontrollably.
The silence in the mansion felt heavy, broken only by Clara's frightened crying.
Julian held his wife tight, checking her hands and legs for any injuries.
Julian: Stay still, Clara, do not try to move right now.
Clara: The baby, Julian... I felt so scared during the fall.
Julian: I caught you, my love, you are safe in my arms.
He reached into his jacket pocket with one hand while holding Clara securely.
He pulled out his phone and rapidly pressed three numbers on the screen.
The dialing tones rang out loudly on the speakerphone as he waited.