A low, resonant ambient drone vibrated through the hallway as Elena pulled the crying girl tighter against her chest, her eyes locked onto Margaret with protective fury.
Elena: You lied to Mr. Vance? You told your own stepbrother that she was away at school while you kept her prisoner in the walls?
Margaret: Ethan is a naive fool who cares too much about family morality! If he knew she was the rightful primary heir to the estate, he would hand over half the corporate shares!
Elena: So you tortured a child just to keep the inheritance for yourself?
Margaret: I preserved our family dynasty! That is something a common maid like you could never possibly understand!
Heavy, rhythmic footsteps echoed from the grand staircase at the end of the hall, cutting through the tense silence.
Ethan: Margaret? What is happening out here? I heard glass shatter from the gallery.
Margaret spun around toward the stairwell, her panic instantly shifting into a theatrical, trembling display of false distress.
Margaret: Ethan! Thank goodness you're here! This maid has completely lost her mind!
Ethan: Explain yourself, Elena. Why are you holding a child in the middle of the hallway?
Elena: Mr. Vance, look inside that hidden compartment behind the oil painting right now.
Margaret: Don't listen to her, Ethan! She broke into the master gallery and stole family heirlooms!
Ethan: Quiet, Margaret. Elena, step aside and let me see what's behind that frame.