Evelyn: "What is that supposed to be? Some fake legal document you cooked up?"
Mark: "It is a certified copy of Arthur Vance's final living trust, filed three weeks before he passed."
Clara: "Mark, what are you talking about? You told me we were just going to ask her about the old bank accounts."
Mark: "I wanted to protect you until I had absolute proof, Clara. Your stepmother has been lying to you for five years."
Evelyn's breath hitched, but she quickly pulled her cold mask back into place, glaring at the surrounding family members.
Evelyn: "This is absurd! I am the legal executor of Arthur's estate! My lawyer verified everything after the funeral!"
Mark: "Your lawyer was paid off to conceal the second codicil of the will, Evelyn."
Evelyn: "You worthless liar! How dare you accuse me of a crime in front of my guests!"
Evelyn stepped around the head of the table, her dark navy suit rustling as she marched toward Mark with her arm raised in fury.
Before Mark could even react, Evelyn swung her arm and landed a sharp, hard slap straight across my cheek.
The force knocked me off balance, and my foot slipped on the polished marble floor, sending me tumbling downward.
Clara: "Ah!"
I hit the ground hard, my elbow catching the corner of a side chair as gasps echoed through the room.
Evelyn: "You ungrateful girl! I fed you, housed you, and gave you a roof over your head!"
A young cousin sitting near the end of the table gasped, dropping his fork against his plate.
Mark: "Clara!"
Mark immediately dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around me and lifting me off the cold floor to shield me from her.
Mark: "Don't you ever lay a hand on her again!"
Evelyn: "She is a snake! You both came into my house to ruin my reputation and steal my money!"
Mark: "Your money? You haven't owned a single dollar in this house since the day Arthur died!"
Evelyn took a step back, her chest heaving as she pointed a trembling finger at the door.
Evelyn: "Security! Someone get security in here right now!"
Mark: "Call them. Please, call the police while you're at it. It will save us the trouble of driving to the station."
The room went dead silent as Mark stood up, pulling me gently behind his back to keep me safe.
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