The security guard unclipped his radio from his belt, placing it firmly onto a polished wooden side table before stepping back into the crowd. Victoria let out a sharp, breathless laugh, her hands shaking as she pulled her red gown away from the spilled liquor on the marble floor.
Victoria: You useless security staff! I will make sure none of you ever work in this city ever again!
Clara: Save your threats, Victoria. Look at the smartwatch screen again. The video is still playing on loop.
Ethan lowered his gaze to his wrist, tapping the screen to restart the high-definition media file from the three-minute mark.
Ethan: Wait... the clip is continuing. It shows someone handing the poison vial directly over to mother.
Clara: That's right, Ethan. Keep watching for five more seconds and look closely at the hands.
The high-definition camera feed zoomed in slightly as a man in a formal tuxedo reached into the frame to pass the silver container. The sleeve cuff pulled back, revealing a custom set of heavy gold cufflinks shaped precisely like small American flags. Ethan lifted his head slowly, his eyes filled with disbelief as his gaze shifted from his watch directly toward his uncle's wrists. Julian stood frozen near the shattered glass, wearing those exact same gold American flag cufflinks under his dark tuxedo jacket.
Ethan: Uncle Julian... those are your cufflinks. You gave her the poison.
Julian: It was a necessary step, Ethan! She was going to file a lawsuit that would have frozen our assets!
Ethan: You tried to kill a person to protect a trust fund!
Julian: It wasn't just a trust fund! It was the entire foundation of Vance Enterprises!
Clara: It was my father's legacy that you stole after pushing him into bankruptcy!
Victoria: Your father was weak, Clara! He lacked the spine required to run a real corporation in this city!
Ethan: Shut up, mother! Just shut up!
Ethan stepped toward his mother, his face flushed with anger and heartbreak as tears finally tracked down his cheeks under the bright lights. The loud sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the grand entrance as multiple uniformed federal agents moved quickly into the mansion foyer. Guests backed away rapidly, clearing a wide path as the authorities entered with arrest warrants held firmly in their hands.
Agent: Victoria Vance and Julian Vance, you are under arrest for federal wire fraud, embezzlement, and attempted murder.
Julian: You can't do this! Do you know who I am?! Get your hands off me!
An agent stepped behind Julian, pulling his arms back firmly to snap cold steel handcuffs around his wrists right over his custom gold cufflinks. Victoria let out a high-pitched scream as another officer escorted her toward the door, her sweeping red gown dragging across the spilled scotch on the floor.