Arthur carried his small baby upstairs to his old bedroom.
The wooden door creaked open into the dusty dark room.
He placed the sleeping infant gently on the soft bed cover.
Arthur: Stay right here while I speak with Maria downstairs.
The father walked quietly down the narrow hallway floor.
He saw a bright light shining under the lawyer office door.
Evelyn was talking softly to someone on her cell phone.
Evelyn: Make sure the adoption paper work is ready by tonight.
Arthur stopped moving and pressed his ear against the wood.
His heart was pounding heavily inside his cold chest.
Evelyn: We will sign the baby over to my sister tomorrow morning.
Arthur pushed the office door open with a loud thud.
Arthur: What adoption papers are you talking about right now?
Evelyn quickly hung up the phone and stood up tall.
Evelyn: You should learn to knock before entering private rooms.
Arthur: Answer my question about my baby boy right now!
Evelyn: You are unfit to raise a child in this grand home.
Arthur: I am his biological father and his primary guardian!
Evelyn: You have no money and no legal team behind you.
Maria walked quickly into the office holding a white file.
Maria: I found these hidden inside the bottom desk drawer, Arthur.
Evelyn reached out her hand to grab the white paper folder.
Evelyn: Put those papers back where you found them, maid!
Arthur stepped between Evelyn and the brave house servant.
Arthur: Hand the file to me right now, Maria.
Maria gave the thick paper folder into Arthur's cold hands.
Arthur opened the cover and scanned the top typed lines.
Arthur: This is a fake custody claim for my infant son!
Evelyn: It is a lawful claim to protect our family trust!
Arthur: My father left the entire trust fund to my child!
Evelyn: Your father was sick when he signed that old document!
Arthur shook his head in deep anger and shock.
He could not believe his stepmother was so cruel inside.
Arthur: You forged his signature on these new lawsuit forms!
Evelyn: Prove it in a court of law if you can afford it.
Maria: I witnessed the late master sign the original will, sir.
Evelyn stared at Maria with pure hatred in her eyes.
Evelyn: You signed a non-disclosure contract when you started work!
Maria: Truth is more important than your money, Mrs. Vance.
Arthur: I am calling our family lawyer right this second.
Evelyn snatched a heavy glass paperweight from the oak desk.
Evelyn: Nobody is calling anyone from this office today!
Arthur: Put that heavy glass down before someone gets hurt.
Evelyn: Get out of my office before I call security guards!
Arthur backed toward the open doorway with the file held tight.
He knew he needed to get his child out of this home.
Arthur: We are leaving this house together right now, Maria.
Maria: I will help you pack the baby clothes upstairs, sir.
Evelyn followed them out into the wide second-floor hallway.
Her face was red with sharp and bitter anger.
Evelyn: You will not leave this property with that baby boy!
Arthur walked fast toward his bedroom to protect his son.
The tension in the grand hallway was rising very fast.