Downstairs, the rich party guests began to notice the loud commotion upstairs.
The family business partners had gathered in the grand ballroom for the engagement announcement.
Julian walked out onto the second-floor balcony overlooking the massive ballroom crowd.
He held Clara's hand firmly while his mother followed behind in sheer panic.
Evelyn: Julian, please do not do this in front of our investors!
Julian: Attention everyone downstairs, please look up here for a moment!
The music stopped abruptly as hundreds of wealthy guests looked up toward the balcony.
Julian stood tall beside his pale, traumatized wife in her tattered white dress.
Julian: The engagement party tonight is officially canceled forever!
The crowd gasped as murmurs broke out across the entire marble ballroom floor.
Julian: Six years ago, my mother lied to me and told me my wife had passed away.
Evelyn grabbed the balcony railing, trying to shout over her angry son.
Evelyn: He is confused, my son suffered severe trauma in his old car accident!
Julian: She hid my wife inside the hallway wall to steal her multi-million dollar trust!
The room went completely silent as shocking horror spread through the entire crowd.
Several high-profile business partners pulled out their phones to record the scene.
Clara stepped forward, her voice growing stronger as she looked down at the people.
Clara: Evelyn locked me away so I could never sign back my father's land!
Sirens began to echo from the long driveway outside the estate gates.
Red and blue police lights flashed brightly through the giant floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
Evelyn backed away slowly toward the hallway door, looking for a private escape route.
Two armed police officers pushed past the stunned guests and headed up the stairs.
Julian: Officers, the criminal you are looking for is right behind me!