Victoria: Good riddance! Julian, let her leave! We can find you a proper bride from a real Palm Beach family!
Marcus: You really think you've won today, don't you, Victoria?
Victoria: I saved my son from a huge mistake, Marcus. That's what a protective mother does.
Marcus: No, Victoria. What you just did was ruin your son's life and expose your own fraud to everyone sitting in these chairs.
A quiet murmur ran through the crowd of guests as Victoria's smug smile suddenly faltered.
Victoria: What fraud are you talking about? Be careful, Marcus, or my lawyers will sue you for slander!
Marcus: Go ahead and call your lawyers. Ask them about the three-million-dollar mortgage fraud on this very mansion.
Julian: Wait... what mortgage fraud? Mom, what is he talking about?
Marcus: Did your mother mention to you why she was so desperate to force Clara into signing that trust fund waiver today, Julian?
Julian: She said she wanted to protect our family assets!
Marcus: She didn't want to protect your assets. She wanted to slip in clause nine of that agreement, which would transfer Clara's late mother's trust directly to your family estate to cover her hidden bank debts!
Victoria's face turned completely ghostly white, her lips trembling as she clutched the manila folder tighter against her dress.
Victoria: That's a complete lie! You have no proof of any of this!
Marcus: My late wife, Sarah, was the co-trustee of your family's offshore holdings before she passed away, Victoria. Did you really think I wouldn't audit the books when Clara turned twenty-five?
Clara: Dad... what did she do to Mom's trust?
Marcus: She forged your mother's signature five years ago to take out an unauthorized loan against your inheritance, Clara. She's been living in this mansion on stolen money!
Julian: Mom... tell me he's making this up! Tell me our family isn't broke!
Victoria: Shut up, Julian! Don't listen to his crazy accusations!
Marcus: I don't need to make anything up. The federal auditors and the police department received the complete paper trail two hours ago.
The distant sound of police sirens began to echo down the long drive leading toward the mansion, growing louder with every passing second.