Julian dropped to his knees immediately beside his father's trembling body.
He gently lifted Arthur's head and supported his weak shoulders with both hands.
The old man gasped softly for air while trying to steady his erratic breathing.
Julian: Dad! Speak to me! Are you okay?!
Arthur: I am fine, my son... just check the folder on the floor.
Julian looked down at his father's pale face with tears welling in his eyes.
He raised his head and glared furiously at Vanessa sitting on the floor nearby.
She was struggling to stand up while dusting off her dark silk dress.
Her face was bright red with intense embarrassment and hidden rage.
She pointed a long manicured finger directly at Julian's angry face.
Vanessa: You will regret touching me like that, Julian!
Julian: You will pay for this! Get out of here before I call the police!
Vanessa: Call them! See who they believe when they read this contract!
She pulled the thick black envelope out from her side pocket with a smirk.
She threw the envelope directly onto Julian's lap with total confidence.
Julian snatched the paper up and opened the flap with shaking fingers.
His eyes scanned the top lines of the crisp legal document inside.
It was a legal claim demanding full ownership of the Miller family estate.
The paper stated that Arthur had signed over all voting rights two weeks ago.
Julian looked down at the signature line at the very bottom of the page.
It showed a shaky signature that looked very much like his father's handwriting.
Julian felt his heart drop into a deep and dark pit of confusion.
He looked at his father with silent panic filling his pounding chest.
Arthur shook his gray head slowly from side to side on the floor.
Arthur: I never signed that document, Julian... it is a total lie.
Vanessa: The notary seal is real, old man! The board belongs to me now!
The surrounding guests began to whisper loudly among themselves about the ugly scene.
Several board members stepped forward to look at the contract in Julian's hands.
They looked confused and worried about the sudden turn of corporate events.
Vanessa stood up straight and held her chin high in victory.
She believed she had executed her hostile takeover with total perfection.
She had spent months planning this moment to capture the entire family fortune.
Julian helped his father sit up against the smooth marble base of a pillar.
He picked up the spilled papers from Arthur's old leather folder on the floor.
Among the yellowed sheets was an official blue seal from the state court.
Julian's eyes widened as he realized what his father had actually brought today.
A tight smile began to form on Julian's lips despite his deep anger.
He stood up slowly and faced the cruel woman in black once more.