Evelyn: You can't cancel the wedding, Marcus! The board of directors is standing right outside in the gallery!
Marcus: Clara, take Lily upstairs to my bedroom. Wash the frosting out of her hair and lock the door from the inside.
Clara: Right away, Mr. Marcus. Come on, sweetie, let's go get cleaned up.
Lily: Daddy, don't leave me...
Marcus: I'm right down here, baby. Nobody is going to hurt you ever again. Go with Clara.
As Clara carried the whimpering girl up the grand staircase, Marcus turned back to face Evelyn, who was frantically wiping pink cake cream off her white designer skirt.
Evelyn: You have lost your mind! You just destroyed a multi-million-dollar merger because a child cried over some cake!
Marcus: You didn't smash that cake because of a joke, Evelyn. You did it because you hate her.
Evelyn: I don't hate her! I was trying to establish authority!
Marcus: You hate her because she inherits fifty percent of my father's trust fund the moment I turn thirty-five!
Evelyn froze, her hand pausing over a smear of frosting on her wrist. Her cold eyes narrowed as she looked up at Marcus.
Evelyn: What did you just say?
Marcus: Did you really think I didn't know why you pushed so hard for an early wedding date? My father's attorney gave me the full audit report yesterday morning.
Evelyn: That audit has nothing to do with me!
Marcus: It has everything to do with you! You knew that if we got married before my birthday, you would automatically become the co-trustee of Lily's trust fund until she turns eighteen!
Evelyn: I am an investment manager, Marcus! Managing her trust fund was part of our family agreement!
Julian: Managing it, or draining it?
Julian, Marcus's younger brother and the estate's chief financial supervisor, walked into the sunroom holding a thick black leather folder. He wore a grey suit and black tie, his face grim as he looked at Evelyn.
Evelyn: Julian? What are you doing here? This is a private family matter!
Julian: It stopped being private when you tried to transfer four hundred thousand dollars out of Lily's trust account two nights ago, Evelyn.
Evelyn: That was an offshore holding transfer for estate tax protection!
Julian: It was a personal transfer to a shell corporation in the Cayman Islands registered under your maiden name!
Marcus: You tried to rob my orphaned daughter before you even had my ring on your finger!
Evelyn: Marcus, listen to me! Julian is trying to frame me so he can take control of the family business himself!
Julian: The bank receipts don't lie, Evelyn. Neither does your signature on the authorization form.
Evelyn looked between the two brothers, her composed demeanor finally beginning to shatter as she realized she was completely cornered.
Evelyn: Marcus... darling, please. We can fix this! I'll cancel the transfer! I'll sign whatever legal waiver you want regarding the trust fund!
Marcus: You think this is just about money now?
Evelyn: What else would it be about?!
Marcus: It's about the fact that you put your hands on my child! You humiliated a five-year-old girl on her birthday because you were angry that her trust fund was locked away from your greedy hands!
Evelyn: She's a spoiled little girl who needs a mother who knows how to discipline her!
Marcus: You will never be a mother to anyone. You are a criminal.
Marcus pulled his smartphone from his blue shirt pocket, tapping the screen to place a direct call.
Evelyn: Who are you calling?! Marcus, put that phone down!
Marcus: Detective Vance? This is Marcus Sterling. I need you and your officers inside the sunroom immediately.
Evelyn: No! Marcus, don't do this! Think of the press! Think of the company stock!
Marcus: The police are already standing in the foyer, Evelyn. I invited them to the party an hour ago.