The dining room fell into a terrifying, heavy silence that suffocated everyone inside.
Evelyn clutched her gold necklace, her breath coming in fast, ragged gasps.
Evelyn: You... you are the heiress to the Vance estate?
Valerie stood up from her chair slowly, smoothing the front of her black dress.
Valerie: My grandfather built the foundation that kept your family business afloat through bankruptcy.
Julian: You never told me... you let us believe you had nothing!
Valerie walked around the edge of the dining table, her heels clicking on the marble.
Valerie: I wanted a husband who loved me for who I was, not my money.
She stopped beside Julian, who looked smaller and paler than he ever had before.
Valerie: But you showed me your true nature today, Julian.
Julian took a desperate step forward, extending his hands in a silent plea.
Julian: I was angry! I didn't mean any of those things I said!
Valerie: You meant every single word, just like your mother and sister did.
Suddenly, Julian's phone began to ring frantically from inside his jacket pocket.
He pulled it out with trembling fingers and looked at the flashing caller ID on screen.
It was his chief financial officer, calling to report the emergency account lockouts.
Julian answered the phone with a cracking voice, pressing it to his ear.
CFO: Julian! All our corporate credit lines just got rejected by the central bank!
Julian closed his eyes as a wave of complete despair washed over him.
Julian: I know... I'll call you back.
He ended the call and looked at Valerie, who stood calm and unbothered near the doorway.
Evelyn: Valerie, think about our family name and our reputation in this city!
Valerie turned back to look at Evelyn with a cold, steady gaze.
Valerie: You built your reputation on a lie, Evelyn.