The giant double doors burst open with a loud thud that echoed off the high walls.
A tall man wearing a dark tailored suit stepped into the bright marble hall.
His face was severe, and his eyes were locked directly onto Victoria.
Lily dropped the white papers onto the floor in utter shock.
Lily: Dad! You came back home!
Richard rushed across the polished floor with fast and heavy steps.
He dropped to his knees immediately and wrapped his strong arms around his daughter.
Richard: Don't you ever lay a hand on my daughter or order her around!
Lily buried her face into her father's dark suit jacket while crying softly.
The fear that had gripped her chest for days finally began to melt away.
Victoria took two quick steps back toward the bottom of the staircase.
Her face had turned completely pale as she stared at her husband.
Victoria: Richard, you were supposed to be locked in meetings overseas for two weeks!
Richard: Did you really think your fake flight schedules would keep me away forever?
Richard stood up to his full height and pulled Lily behind his back.
He glared down at Victoria with pure anger in his sharp dark eyes.
Richard: She is my daughter, and this entire estate belongs directly to her!
Victoria shook her head quickly while trying to regain her composure.
Victoria: You signed over the management rights to the family business last month!
Richard: I signed standard management forms, not a deed transfer for my home.
Richard pulled a black leather folder from his inner jacket pocket.
He held up a set of official government documents with legal stamps.
Richard: My private investigator caught your accountant red-handed at the airport this morning.
Victoria's hands began to tremble as she looked at the official government stamps.
She reached out to grab the folder, but Richard pulled it back quickly.
Victoria: That documentation is private business property that belongs to my office!
Richard: This paperwork proves you forged my signature on the property transfer deeds.
The household staff began to gather openly around the edges of the room.
Victoria looked around at the watching eyes and felt her control slipping away.
Victoria: We can discuss this quietly inside the back office, Richard!
Richard: There will be no quiet discussions behind closed doors today.
Richard stepped forward and pointed toward the open entrance doors.
Two heavy black police vehicles pulled up into the long circle driveway outside.
The bright red and blue lights reflected off the tall glass windows.
Victoria: What did you do, Richard?
Richard: I called the federal authorities the moment I read the forensic audit report.
Lily held onto her father's coat sleeve while watching the front porch.
Two uniformed federal officers stepped out of the dark police vehicles.
Victoria: You cannot treat me like a common criminal in my own home!
Richard: This is not your home, Victoria, and it never was.
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