The heavy mahogany doors slammed shut behind Emily, leaving a heavy silence hanging over the grand dining hall.
Eleanor: Richard, you went way too far tonight.
Richard: She tried to sell the mansion behind my back, Mother.
Victoria: He did the right thing, Eleanor. A thief does not deserve a seat at this table.
Eleanor: Emily has lived in this house since the day she was born. She loved her late mother's legacy.
Richard: If she loved her mother's memory, she wouldn't have forged my signature on the trust fund papers!
Richard sank back into his high-backed leather chair, his breathing heavy as his hands shook on the tablecloth.
Victoria: Sit down and finish your wine, Richard. Your blood pressure is getting too high.
Richard: How could my own flesh and blood betray me like this?
Victoria: She was greedy. Just like her mother was near the end.
Eleanor: Do not speak about Sarah like that in this house, Victoria!
Victoria: I am your daughter-in-law now, Eleanor! I have every right to speak the truth!
Richard: Enough! Both of you, stop arguing!
Richard rubbed his temples, staring blankly at the empty chair where Emily had been sitting moments ago.
Eleanor: Did you even look at the bank documents yourself, Richard? Or did you just take Victoria's word for it?
Richard: The bank manager called me directly this morning!
Victoria: Exactly. The transfer was authorized from Emily's private laptop inside the estate.
Eleanor: Laptops can be accessed by anyone in this building.
Victoria: Are you accusing me of something, Eleanor?
Eleanor: I am saying that Emily was terrified when she walked into this room tonight.
Richard: She was terrified because she knew I found out about the offshore account!
Victoria: Richard, let's just go up to the study and sign the new deed transfer forms now.
Richard: Not tonight, Victoria. My head is pounding.
Victoria: The lawyer said the estate tax exemption expires at midnight! We need to put the house in my name to protect it from Emily's creditors!
Eleanor: Put the house in your name? Since when does a stepmother inherit a two-hundred-year-old family estate?
Victoria: I am protecting Richard's assets!
Richard: Mother is right about one thing. The estate deed stays in the family vault until the corporate audit is complete.
Victoria's jaw tightened, a flash of pure anger crossing her face before she quickly forced a soft, sympathetic smile.
Victoria: Of course, darling. Whatever makes you feel safe.
Eleanor: I am going to check on Emily. She has nowhere to go in this storm.
Richard: Leave her alone, Mother. She made her choice when she signed those transfer papers.
Eleanor: You will regret this night for the rest of your life, Richard.
Grandmother Eleanor stood up slowly, her silver hair shining under the chandelier as she walked toward the foyer.
Richard stared down at his plate, unaware that the real snake was sitting directly across from him, sipping expensive red wine.