The front door opened again as Officer Thomas stepped into the bright marble foyer.
He adjusted his utility belt and tipped his cap toward Arthur and Elena.
Officer Thomas: Is everything under control in here, Mr. Vance?
Arthur: We have secured the stolen estate assets right here on the table, Officer.
Victoria: Officer, this is a private family dispute that has nothing to do with law enforcement!
Officer Thomas: Ma'am, stealing from a minor's trust fund is a felony under state law.
Elena walked back to Leo and took his tiny hand into her own warm palm.
The young boy smiled up at her, sensing that the threat had finally passed away.
Elena: She wanted to take him to an unregistered boarding school across the state line.
Elena: She was going to leave him there while she liquidated the remaining estate assets!
Victoria: That is a complete lie! I was securing his academic future!
Arthur: We found the enrollment forms in your desk drawers yesterday afternoon, Victoria.
Arthur: You signed those forms under a fake guardian title without any legal court authorization.
Victoria buried her face in her hands as her entire scheme crumbled around her.
The officer walked over and stood beside her chair with a stern expression.
Officer Thomas: Stand up, ma'am. You need to come down to the station for questioning.
Victoria: You cannot arrest me! My family built this town's entire economic infrastructure!
Officer Thomas: No one is above the law, regardless of their family name or fortune.
Victoria slowly stood up from the armchair, her red dress rumpled and her hair unkempt.
She cast one final look of pure hatred toward Elena as the officer escorted her toward the door.
Victoria: You will regret the day you stood against me, Elena!
Elena: I will never regret doing the right thing for an innocent boy, Victoria.
The double glass doors closed behind Victoria as she was led down the front steps outside.
A profound sense of peace returned to the sunlit foyer of the Sterling estate.