By three o'clock that afternoon, storm clouds had gathered over Dallas, turning the sky a deep, bruised gray. Inside the mansion's oak-paneled study, Julian sat behind his massive mahogany desk. Elena sat beside him in a comfortable leather armchair, now wearing a soft ivory cashmere sweater and trousers provided by the estate staff.
The heavy doors opened, and Arthur Vance, Julian's chief corporate attorney, walked in carrying a thick stack of legal briefs, followed by Victoria and her father, industrialist Harold Sterling-Cole.
Harold: "Julian! What is the meaning of this outrage?! My daughter was dragged out of this house by your security like a common criminal!"
Victoria: "Look at my arms, Dad! He bruised me! And now he's got this worthless maid sitting in a cashmere sweater beside him!"
Julian: "Sit down, Harold. And Victoria, if you raise your voice in front of my sister again, I'll have you arrested for trespassing."
Harold: "Your... your sister? Are you insane?! You don't have a sister!"
Arthur Vance: "Mr. Cole, thirty minutes ago we received the expedited DNA results from the Dallas Forensic Institute. Elena Miller and Julian Sterling share a ninety-nine point nine percent full sibling match."
Victoria's jaw dropped open as she stared at Elena in total disbelief.
Victoria: "DNA match?! She's a maid! She was scrubbing the toilets this morning!"
Arthur Vance: "She is the biological daughter of Clara Miller, the rightful heir to the original Sterling foundation trust that pre-dates Richard Sterling's fraud."
Harold: "Fraud?! What fraud?!"
Julian: "My adoptive father illegally acquired my guardianship through Saint Jude Hospital in 1998, Harold. Every contract, including the prenup agreement I signed with your daughter, was executed under a false identity."
Victoria: "What does that mean for my settlement?!"
Arthur Vance: "It means your prenup is completely void, Victoria. Furthermore, we have security footage from the foyer showing you intentionally throwing three-month-old Leo into the air, risking severe bodily injury or death."
Victoria: "I was playing! It was a joke!"
Arthur Vance: "The District Attorney does not view child endangerment as a joke, Miss Cole. We have already filed a formal complaint for felony child abuse."
Harold turned to his daughter, his face turning bright red with rage and embarrassment.
Harold: "You threw his child?! Are you completely brainless, Victoria?!"
Victoria: "Dad, help me! He can't cut us off! Your company needs his investment to survive the month!"
Harold: "Julian, please... let's discuss this like businessmen! My firm owes thirty million to private lenders! If you pull your backing, we'll lose everything!"
Julian: "You should have raised a daughter with a heart, Harold. Your family's credit line with Sterling Energy is terminated as of five minutes ago."