The sound of heavy leather shoes echoed loudly outside the front entrance doors.
A split second later, the grand front double doors burst completely wide open.
Julian stepped into the bright foyer, holding a black leather briefcase tight.
He stopped near the marble archway, looking up at the high grand staircase.
His dark business suit was slightly wrinkled from a long morning drive citywide.
Julian: What on earth is happening in this foyer right now?
Victoria: Julian, tell this girl to pack her things and leave immediately!
Clara: She is trying to throw us out onto the street, Julian!
Julian looked between his stepmother on the stairs and his sister below.
He saw Clara clutching her tiny baby boy tightly against her beige shirt.
His face flushed deep red as intense anger swept over his feature lines.
He set his heavy briefcase down hard onto the polished marble floor.
Julian: Have you completely lost your mind up there, Victoria?
Victoria: Do not speak to me with that disrespectful tone, young man!
Julian marched toward the bottom of the staircase with rapid, heavy strides.
Julian: You do not get to speak to my family like that!
Victoria: I run this house now, and you will obey my rules!
Julian reached the third step and stood firmly, towering over the railings.
Julian: Our father worked his entire life to build this stable home for us.
Victoria: Your father left me in charge of all his financial property!
Clara: She has been hiding father's personal iron safe upstairs for weeks.
Julian turned his eyes toward Clara, his jaw tightening in deep suspicion.
Julian: Is that true, Victoria? Did you lock away his documents?
Victoria flinched slightly, her cold hands grasping the dark wooden handrail tighter.
Victoria: That personal safe contains private matters that do not concern either of you.
Julian: Everything Henry left behind concerns both Clara and me directly!
Victoria: You two are ungrateful kids who deserve absolutely nothing today!
Julian took another big step upward, pointing his long finger toward her.
Julian: Hand over the safe keys right now, or I call lawyers!
Victoria: You have no authority to demand anything in this grand mansion!
Clara moved closer to the foot of the stairs to support Julian.
Her baby babbled softly, unaware of the heated storm surrounding them all.
Clara: We know Henry made legal arrangements before he went to hospital.
Victoria's eyes darted toward the hallway table where key rings rested quietly.
She looked trapped, but her stubborn posture remained stiff and upright still.
Victoria: Try whatever you want, but you will find nothing useful today.
Julian turned toward the hallway table and snatched the small iron key ring.
Julian: We are going to open that safe together right this minute.