The room went completely silent after Arthur spoke into his small radio.
Julian's father stood up from his armchair with a look of growing concern.
Julian's Father: Who are you calling on that radio, old man?
Arthur: I am calling the federal oversight board for regional banking.
Julian tried to laugh, but his voice sounded weak and uncertain now.
Julian: You are just a retired mechanic from the lower valley.
Arthur: You never looked past my old work clothes, did you?
Clara wiped her eyes and looked up at her father in total surprise.
She had lived in fear inside this big house for almost two years.
Julian had cut her off from her bank accounts and her old friends.
He made her feel helpless by constantly threatening her father's small workshop.
Clara: Dad, he said he would take your garage if I spoke out.
Arthur: He lied to you, sweetheart, because he wanted your inheritance money.
Julian's mother stepped forward while adjusting her expensive gold necklace.
Julian's Mother: We gave your daughter a life of luxury in this estate!
Arthur: You trapped her in a gilded cage and stole her peace.
The heavy front doors creaked as two men in black suits walked inside.
They carried leather briefcases and carried themselves with quiet authority.
Julian stood up quickly from his chair and backed away toward the stairs.
Lawyer: Mr. Vance, all assets associated with the trust are officially frozen.
Julian: You cannot freeze my family accounts without a court order!
Lawyer: The order was signed twenty minutes ago by the chief magistrate.
Julian's face turned pale as the reality of the situation set in.
He looked at his father, but the older man sat back down in defeat.
Arthur helped Clara stand up from the cold marble floor slowly.
She held onto her father's arm while her knees shook under her gown.
Arthur: Let us get your real belongings from upstairs, Clara.
Julian: She is not leaving this property with anything from this house!
Arthur: She is leaving with everything that truly belongs to her.
Julian stepped into their path, trying to block the grand staircase.
Arthur did not stop walking and kept his eyes fixed on Julian.
Arthur: Move out of the way before things get worse for you.
Julian took one step backward as Arthur's calm energy filled the space.
The two lawyers began opening their briefcases at the dining table nearby.
They laid out legal notices that named Julian's family in a major fraud investigation.
Julian looked down at the bright paper sheets with terror in his eyes.
Julian: How did you get access to our private audit files?
Arthur: I owned the board that funded your father's original business thirty years ago.
Julian's mother gasped out loud as the truth finally crashed down on them.
They had assumed Arthur was an easy target with no power or money.
Clara looked at her father with wide eyes as they climbed the stairs.
Clara: Why did you never tell me about your old investments, Dad?
Arthur: I wanted you to live a humble life away from greed.
They walked down the wide hallway toward Clara's master bedroom door.
Arthur knew the fight was not over, but the first wall was down.