Evelyn: Grant, call our legal team right now! Call Mr. Harrison!
Marcus: Go ahead, call your lawyer. Call whoever you want. Nobody is leaving this room until I see what is on that screen.
Claire pulled the black tablet toward her with trembling hands, entering her passcode before opening the audio files.
Claire: Listen to this, Dad... This was recorded three days ago, right before you got back into the country.
The audio played clearly through the high-definition speakers, filling the bright room with Grant's sharp, angry voice.
Audio Grant: Sign the deed, Claire! If you don't put my name on the title, I'll make sure you never see a dime of your father's trust fund!
Audio Claire: Stop, Grant! You're hurting my arm! Get off me!
Audio Evelyn: Just sign it, girl! You think a General's daughter is too good to share her wealth with my son? You're nothing without us!
Audio Grant: Sign it or I'll make sure you lose the baby!
The room went so quiet that the sound of the wind outside the window sounded like a roar.
Marcus turned slowly to face Grant, his chest heaving as his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides.
Marcus: You threatened my unborn grandchild?
Grant: I didn't mean it like that! It was just an argument! People say things they don't mean when they're stressed out!
Evelyn: It was taken out of context! They were arguing about money, General! Every young couple argues about finances!
Marcus: Threatening to cause a miscarriage is not an argument, Evelyn. That is a threat of murder.
Claire: They locked me in this room after that, Dad. They took my personal phone so I couldn't call the base or contact your officers.
Marcus: How did you send me that text message today, Claire?
Claire: I used my old smartwatch that was hidden in my gym bag under the bed. It only had three percent battery left, but I managed to send you my location coordinates.
Grant: You sneaky little brat!
Marcus: Back up, Grant! Back up against that wall right now before I lose my military composure!
Evelyn: You can't talk to my son like he's one of your foot soldiers, General Vance! We come from a prominent family in this city!
Marcus: Prominent family? Your son is a parasite who targeted my daughter because he knew her family had money and property!
Grant: She loved me! She wanted to build a life with me until you came back and started meddling in our private business!
Claire: I never loved you, Grant. I was afraid of you. You threatened to ruin my dad's career with fake stories if I left you!
Marcus: Ruin my career? With what, Grant? What could a broke thirty-year-old trust-fund dropout possibly have on a decorated military General?
Grant: I know about the offshore accounts, Vance! I know where you put the money from your private defense consulting contracts!
Marcus: What offshore accounts? Every penny I own is reported directly to the United States government on my annual tax filings!
Claire: He forged financial documents, Dad. He tried to set up a fake bank paper with your signature to blackmail you if you ever tried to kick him out.
Marcus let out a low, terrifying laugh as he looked at Grant's pale, sweating face.
Marcus: You forged my military signature on financial papers? Do you have any idea how many federal laws you just broke, son?