Julian led his mother by the hand into his private executive elevator.
He brought her up to the top floor penthouse office.
He poured her a glass of warm water and wrapped his jacket over her shoulders.
Julian: You will never have to work another day in your life, Mom.
Clara: I do not need money, Julian, I only wanted your safety.
Suddenly, the heavy double doors of his office swung open aggressively.
Julian's uncle, Richard Vance, marched into the room with a furious look.
Richard was the vice president of the company and owned thirty percent of the stock.
Richard: Have you lost your mind, Julian?
Richard: You just canceled the biggest merger deal in company history!
Julian stood up tall and stepped between his uncle and his mother.
Julian: Watch your tone inside my office, Richard.
Richard stopped moving when his eyes landed on Clara sitting on the leather sofa.
His face turned completely pale, and his hands began to shake violently.
Richard: Clara? You... you are supposed to be dead!
Clara stood up slowly, her eyes narrowing with sudden realization.
Clara: Richard... it was you who locked the front door that night.
Julian turned around quickly to face his weeping mother.
Julian: What are you saying, Mom?
Clara: The night of the fire, your father was out of town.
Clara: Richard came to our house asking for the family inheritance documents.
Clara: When I refused to give them, he locked us inside and set the curtains on fire!
Julian felt a dark rage explode inside his heart.
Richard backed away toward the open office door with terror in his eyes.
Richard: She is crazy, Julian! She is an uneducated cleaner telling lies!
Julian: You burned our house down for the family business trust fund!
Richard: You cannot prove anything after twenty long years!