The ballroom went completely silent as the heavy tension grew stronger.
Maya stood firm on the checkered floor without showing any sign of fear.
Victoria gasped loudly while straightening her silk dress with nervous hands.
Victoria: Security! Get this crazy worker out of this mansion right now!
Julian: Wait just a second, Victoria, let us hear the whole story.
Victoria: Why are you taking her side over your own sister?
Julian: Because you bumped into her on purpose, and everybody saw it.
Maya looked at Julian in surprise, wondering why he was helping her.
Julian walked forward across the checkered floor with calm, confident steps.
He glanced down at the name tag pinned to Maya's grey work shirt.
Julian: Your last name is Miller, isn't it?
Maya: Yes, my name is Maya Miller.
Julian's eyes widened slightly as if he recognized her family history.
Julian: Is your mother named Eleanor Miller by any chance?
Maya: How do you know my mother's real name?
Victoria stepped between them with a look of extreme anger and worry.
Victoria: Stop talking to her, Julian! She is just low-class help!
Julian: Be quiet, Victoria, before you make things worse for yourself.
Julian pulled a leather document holder from his inner jacket pocket.
Maya watched him closely while wiped frosting from her hands with a napkin.
She remembered her mother talking about a legal trust fund years ago.
Her mother worked as a senior accountant for the Vance corporation long ago.
Before her illness, Eleanor had discovered massive financial errors in their books.
Julian: My father signed a legal settlement for your mother last week.
Maya: We never received any money or legal papers from your family.
Julian: That is because someone in this house intercepted the package.
Victoria's face turned completely white as Julian turned his gaze toward her.
Victoria: You cannot prove anything you are saying right now!
Julian: Our company lawyer gave me the tracking receipts this morning.
Maya felt a sudden wave of hope washing over her tired mind.
If the life insurance and settlement were real, her mother was saved.
She could pay for the expensive hospital operations without working three jobs.
Maya: Where is the check that belongs to my sick mother?
Julian: It was deposited into a private account controlled by Victoria.
The surrounding guests began whispering to each other in total shock.
Victoria took two steps backward while shaking her head in desperation.
Victoria: He is lying to ruin my reputation in front of everyone!
Maya: You stole my mother's medical money while she was suffering?
Victoria: She did not deserve that money anyway!
Maya stepped closer with a cold look of absolute determination in her eyes.