Father Mark: Stay right behind me, Lily. Hold onto my shirt.
Lily: I'm scared, Daddy.
Father Mark: I won't let anyone hurt you, baby. I promise.
Mark took the stairs two at a time, his heart hammering in his chest like a war drum.
Behind them, Vanessa’s high heels clicked frantically against the wooden steps as she ran down after them.
Stepmother Vanessa: Mark, stop! You don't understand the legal consequences of breaking into that section!
Father Mark: Legal consequences? This is my property! My family's estate!
Vanessa's Boyfriend Carter: Not anymore it isn't! Vanessa signed the power of attorney documents three weeks ago while you were out of the country!
Mark froze at the bottom of the landing, turning around to glare at Carter in disbelief.
Father Mark: Power of attorney? I never signed any document giving her control over the family trust!
Stepmother Vanessa: You didn't have to! The court granted it based on the medical reports!
Father Mark: What medical reports?! What are you talking about?!
Lily: Daddy, look! The light under the door!
At the end of the narrow brick corridor stood a heavy steel security door, locked tight with a massive iron padlock.
A muffled voice echoed faintly from behind the thick metal barrier.
Voice Behind Door: Help! Is someone out there?! Please, help me!
Mark felt his breath hitch in his throat. He recognized that voice instantly, though he hadn't heard it in over twenty-four months.
Father Mark: Sarah?! Is that... is that Sarah?!
Voice Behind Door: Mark?! Mark, is that you?! Help me! They locked me in here!
Father Mark: My wife is alive?! Vanessa, what the hell did you do?!
Stepmother Vanessa: Mark, listen to me! She’s mentally unstable! We put her in care for her own protection!
Father Mark: Care?! You locked my wife in a basement storage vault and told me she died in a car crash two years ago!
Vanessa's Boyfriend Carter: She was going to ruin the company, Mark! The inheritance money was supposed to go to the firm!
Father Mark: You sick bastards! You faked her death for the life insurance and the estate funds!
Mark stepped up to the massive iron padlock, raising the vintage key in his shaking hand.
Stepmother Vanessa: If you open that door, Mark, you lose everything! The mortgage, the trust fund, the house—it all reverts to the state!
Father Mark: I don't give a damn about the money!
Mark slid the heavy key into the rusted lock mechanism and turned it with all his strength.
A loud, heavy click echoed through the dark hallway as the iron latch released.
Lily: Mommy!
Father Mark: Hold on, Sarah! I’m opening it!
Vanessa suddenly rushed forward, grabbing a heavy metal pipe from the utility rack near the stairs.
Stepmother Vanessa: I won't let you ruin my life, Mark!
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