Marcus stepped toward Vivian with panic written all over his pale face.
"Vivian, please, I was just trying to keep the peace!" Marcus begged desperately.
"You asked me to submit to a public humiliation, Marcus," Vivian said fiercely.
"You chose your mother's bitter lies over your own pregnant wife."
Arthur raised his hand, signaling his head security officer to step forward.
The officer held a sleek digital tablet displaying a live video feed.
"Before we arrived, my team tapped into the estate's security camera feed," Arthur explained.
He tapped the screen and held the tablet out for all the guests to view.
The video clearly showed Clara dropping her own diamond ring into Vivian's open purse.
Evelyn was standing right beside Clara on the tape, nodding in clear approval.
The room erupted into shocked whispers as guests watched the crystal-clear evidence play out.
Clara covered her mouth, bursting into real tears of deep embarrassment and shame.
"You set this up from the very start," Vivian said, looking at Evelyn.
"Because you knew my father was funding Marcus's new business merger next month."
Evelyn sank back against the marble pillar, completely stripped of her arrogance.
"It was just a misunderstanding!" Evelyn pleaded, her voice trembling terribly.
"My lawyers will handle this misunderstanding in court," Arthur declared powerfully.
"Every loan agreement and business partnership between our companies is officially canceled today."
Marcus grabbed his head in total horror as his financial future crumbled away.
Without Arthur's backing, his family estate would face immediate bankruptcy and foreclosure.
"Vivian, please think about our baby!" Marcus cried out, reaching for her hand.
Vivian pulled her hand back instantly, looking at him with total indifference.
"My baby will grow up with a family that actually values integrity," she said.