Clara: Shh, Leo. It's okay, baby. Mommy's got you. You're safe.
Leo: Is that mean lady coming back, Mommy?
Clara: No, honey. She won't touch you ever again.
Clara smoothed down her son's messy brown hair, her heart hammering against her ribs as she listened to the echoes of the mansion.
Footsteps echoed from the far corridor, slow and measured against the quiet room.
An older gentleman in a tailored charcoal suit stepped into the hallway, holding a thick leather folder in his hand.
Arthur: What was that commotion out here, Clara?
Clara: Mr. Sterling... I am so sorry. Victoria grabbed Leo and tried to throw him out into the driveway.
Arthur: She did what?
Clara: She dragged him by his arm. I lost my temper, sir. I slapped her.
Arthur paused, staring at Clara with a look of quiet disbelief before looking down at little Leo hiding behind her apron.
Arthur: You slapped my daughter-in-law?
Clara: I know I will lose my job for this, Mr. Sterling. I'll pack my things and hand in my uniform immediately.
Arthur: Hold on a moment, Clara. Don't touch that uniform just yet.
Clara: Sir?
Arthur: Victoria has been terrorizing the staff in this house ever since my son passed away two years ago. Where did she go?
Clara: She ran outside toward her car, sir. She was screaming about calling the police.
Arthur: Let her call them. In fact, I've already invited the police over myself.
Clara took a step back, her hands trembling as she clutched Leo's small shoulders.
Clara: Mr. Sterling... please don't let them take my boy. I was only protecting him.
Arthur: I didn't call the police on you, Clara. I called them for Victoria.
Clara: I don't understand.
Arthur: Look at this folder, Clara. Do you recognize the name on these bank statements?
Arthur opened the thick leather folder, presenting a stack of certified financial documents stamped with red legal seals.
Clara: That's... that's my late husband's name. Richard Vance.
Arthur: Richard was my eldest son, Clara. My biological son from my first marriage.
Clara gasped, covering her mouth as her eyes darted between Arthur's face and the papers in his hand.
Clara: Richard... Richard told me his family lived overseas!
Arthur: Richard lied to you to keep you safe from Victoria and her family. But before he died, he made sure I knew the truth about his marriage to you.
Clara: He... he talked to you about me?
Arthur: Every single week, Clara. And more importantly, he told me about his son.
Arthur knelt down on the cold marble floor, looking directly into little Leo's tear-filled eyes with a soft, affectionate smile.
Arthur: Hello, Leo. I am your grandfather.
Leo looked up at Clara, his hands gripping her skirt tightly.
Leo: Mommy, is he a nice man?
Clara: Yes, baby... he's a very good man.
Arthur: I have been searching for you two for eighteen months, Clara. Victoria intercepted your letters and hid Richard's true last will and testament from the probate court.
Clara: She hid his will?
Arthur: She did much more than that. And today, she's going to answer for every single crime she committed.