Arthur stepped directly between his powerful stepfather and the frightened boy sitting by the desk.
The tension inside the small office was thick enough to cut with a knife as both men locked eyes.
Arthur: Thomas wrote down everything before he passed away, Richard.
Arthur: He explained how you forced him off the road ten years ago.
Richard: That is a complete lie invented by a disgraced woman seeking money.
Richard: You have no proof of those absurd claims.
Arthur: The court will decide what is real when they see this letter and watch.
Arthur: You spent ten years trying to take over the family real estate empire.
Arthur: You tried to steal what belonged to Thomas and his son.
Richard let out a cold, bitter laugh and adjusted the expensive silk tie around his neck.
Richard: I built this company into a multi-million dollar corporation while your brother hid away.
Richard: A silly little watch changes absolutely nothing in a court of law.
Richard: Hand over that piece of paper right now, Arthur.
Arthur: I will never give you anything ever again.
Arthur took his smartphone out of his pocket and dialed his personal corporate lawyer immediately.
He placed the phone on speaker mode so his stepfather could hear every word clearly.
Lawyer: Good afternoon, Arthur.
Lawyer: How can I help you today?
Arthur: I need you to file an emergency freeze on all Sterling Group assets.
Arthur: We have found the lawful heir to the Vance estate.
Lawyer: Understood, Arthur.
Lawyer: I will submit the legal paperwork to the judge within thirty minutes.
Richard's arrogant expression instantly vanished, replaced by sheer panic as he realized his situation.
He knew that a legal freeze on the company funds would ruin his upcoming corporate merger.
Without control over the primary estate trust, Richard held no actual power in the firm.
Richard: You are making a huge mistake, Arthur!
Richard: You will destroy everything our family built!
Arthur: You destroyed this family ten years ago when you hunted my brother.
Arthur: Get out of my sight before I have the police arrest you here.
Richard glared furiously at Arthur and the young boy before turning around and storming out of the room.
He slammed the heavy wooden door behind him, leaving a profound silence in the warm office.
Arthur took a deep breath, knelt down beside Leo, and gently placed the golden watch in the boy's coat pocket.
Arthur: You were very brave today, Leo.
Arthur: Now take me to your mother right away.