Mark held Sarah firmly against his shoulder while Lily wrapped her tiny arms around her mother's waist.
The bright daylight from the grand windows shone down on Sarah's dusty blond hair.
Her tearful eyes blinked repeatedly as she adjusted to the clear, warm sunlight after months in darkness.
Mark: You are safe now, my love. Nobody will ever hurt you again.
Sarah: I was so scared, Mark. She told me you stopped looking for me.
Mark pulled back slightly and looked directly into Sarah's tired, hollow eyes.
Mark: Who told you that? Who did this to you?
Sarah raised a trembling hand and pointed toward the grand double staircase above them.
Standing on the middle landing was Victoria, holding a heavy leather designer handbag in her hands.
Victoria's face had gone completely pale, and her eyes were wide with pure terror.
She had been trying to slip quietly out the back doors before the lockdown was announced.
Victoria: This... this is a huge misunderstanding, Mark!
Mark stood up slowly, keeping one hand protective on Sarah's shaking shoulder.
Mark: You kept my wife trapped in a hole like an animal under my own home?!
Victoria: I was only trying to protect the family estate and her trust fund!
Sarah: She forced me to sign papers giving her full control over my inheritance!
Sarah's voice trembled with anger as the terrible truth finally came out into the light.
Sarah: She said if I refused to sign the life insurance papers, she would leave me down there forever!
Mark felt an icy anger settle deep into his chest as he glared at Victoria.
Victoria had been living comfortably in the luxury guest house for four long months.
She had spent thousands of dollars from Sarah's personal bank account on expensive clothes and fine cars.
She had even hired a high-priced lawyer to claim Sarah was legally dead to seize the mansion.
Mark: You manipulated our family and stole from my wife while she suffered underground!
Victoria: I am her stepmother! I have rights to that money!
Mark: You have no rights here except the right to remain silent!
Mark waved his hand toward the two security guards standing near the front doors.
Mark: Hold her right there until the police arrive!
The guards moved quickly up the marble stairs and stood firmly on either side of Victoria.
Victoria dropped her expensive bag onto the stairs as tears of panic welled in her eyes.
Victoria: You cannot do this to me! I am family!
Mark: You are a criminal, and your greed has ruined your life.