The entire banquet hall fell into a heavy, silent shock.
Guests whispered quietly behind their expensive silk napkins.
Victoria's face turned completely white with sudden fear.
Victoria: David, you are out of your mind!
David: I am going to find the truth today.
David stood up and pointed toward his private office.
David: Elena, please come into my study right now.
Elena held the little girl's hand tightly in hers.
She could not understand what was happening around her.
Was it really possible that her child was still alive?
She followed David down the long, carpeted hallway.
Victoria hurried right behind them, her heels clicking loudly.
They entered the large, wood-paneled office at the end.
David closed the heavy wooden door behind them all.
He walked directly over to his large executive desk.
He pulled out a key and unlocked the lower drawer.
Inside was a thick black folder marked with legal seals.
He opened the folder and laid out the papers carefully.
David: Three years ago, my wife brought Lily home.
David: She said the birth mother had willingly given her up.
Elena: I never gave my baby up to anyone!
Elena's voice broke as tears spilled over her cheeks.
Elena: They told me my baby died during the birth!
Elena: I never even got to hold her once!
David looked over at Victoria with a burning glare.
Victoria stepped back against the heavy bookshelf in silence.
She reached for her designer purse with shaking hands.
Victoria: She is lying, David! She wants our money!
David: Look at the child's face, Victoria!
The little girl sat on the sofa, holding Elena's hand.
She looked up at Elena with absolute trust and comfort.
David pulled out a document from the thick black file.
It was a copy of the original hospital birth certificate.
The birth mother's name was clearly written near the bottom.
David read the name out loud to the room.
David: Elena Marie Vance.
Elena gasped loudly and covered her mouth in shock.
That was her real full maiden name from four years ago.
She had never told anyone at this house her full name.
The truth hit the room like a sudden lightning strike.
Victoria had bribed a corrupt doctor at the hospital.
She had stolen the newborn baby from a poor mother.
She had forced the inheritance trust fund to accept the child.
Victoria needed an heir to secure the Sterling family estate.
Without a child, she would have received no inheritance money.
David felt a deep wave of horror settle over him.
He had lived with a criminal under the same roof.