Amanda: Rachel, please... you shouldn't have hit him.
Amanda set little Lily down on the sofa, wiping the girl's wet cheeks with a paper napkin.
Rachel: He put his hands on a three-year-old, Amanda. I'm not going to sit here and let him bully this family.
Amanda: You know how his father is! Uncle Marcus controls Dad's entire estate now!
Rachel: Marcus doesn't control anything until the court signs off on the probate papers next week.
The heavy front door suddenly rattled on its hinges as someone slammed their fist against the wood.
Rachel walked straight to the entrance, pulling the door open without hesitation.
Marcus stood on the porch in a dark tailored suit, his face contorted in anger while Julian hovered right behind him.
Marcus: What the hell did you do to my son, Rachel?!
Rachel: Ask your son why he put his hands on my granddaughter.
Marcus: He said the brat broke his collectible model car!
Amanda: She didn't break anything! She just picked it up off the coffee table!
Amanda stepped into the hallway, her voice trembling as she confronted her uncle.
Amanda: Julian slapped her hand so hard it left a red mark on her wrist, Uncle Marcus!
Marcus: Julian is the heir to Vance Enterprises! You don't raise your hand to my boy over some toddler tears!
Rachel: Your boy is an entitled brute, Marcus, just like you've been ever since Dad passed away.
Marcus stepped across the threshold, his voice dropping into a cold, menacing whisper.
Marcus: Listen to me very carefully, Rachel.
Rachel: Get off my porch, Marcus.
Marcus: This house is under the company mortgage. The company that I run.
Amanda: Dad gave this house to us in his will!
Marcus: The will hasn't cleared probate yet, my dear niece.
Julian smirked from behind his father's shoulder, crossing his arms once again.
Julian: If Aunt Rachel doesn't apologize to me right now on her knees, we're cutting off the trust allowance tomorrow morning.
Rachel: Apologize to a boy who hits children? You must be out of your mind.
Marcus: You have twenty-four hours, Rachel. Either you sign over your voting shares in Vance Enterprises to Julian, or I initiate foreclosure on this property on Monday.
Amanda: Marcus, no! My kids live here!
Marcus: Then teach your sister some manners.
Marcus turned around, adjusting his tie as he walked down the brick steps with Julian.
Julian: See you in court, Aunt Rachel.
Rachel slammed the heavy door shut, turning to face her sobbing sister in the quiet hallway.
Amanda: What are we going to do, Rachel? We can't afford a real foreclosure lawyer!
Rachel: We don't need a foreclosure lawyer, Amanda. We need Dad's private safe.
Amanda: The safe in the master closet? Marcus took the key three days after the funeral!
Rachel: He took the brass key, Amanda. He doesn't know about the master combination Dad gave me before he died.