Eleanor: Julian! Stop this madness right now! I am your father's widow! You cannot treat me like a common criminal!
Julian: You treated my son like trash in the lobby ten minutes ago, Eleanor. You showed no mercy to a starving nine-year-old boy. Why should I show any to you?
Eleanor: I raised you after your mother passed away! I ran this company when you were too broken to handle the business!
Julian: You didn't raise me, Eleanor. You isolated me. You made me believe everyone outside this building was trying to steal from me while you were the one robbing my life from the inside.
Within fifteen minutes, the heavy double doors of the boardroom swung open once again. Four uniformed Chicago police officers walked into the room, led by a stern female detective holding a set of steel handcuffs.
Detective Carter: Mr. Sterling? We received a call regarding estate fraud and evidence of illegal extortion.
Julian: Over here, Detective. Here is the complete file of documents showing illegal payments and threats executed by Eleanor Sterling against my son's late mother.
Arthur handed the green folder directly to Detective Carter. The detective flipped through the signed letters and bank transaction stubs, her brow furrowing in disgust as she read the terms of the forced relocation.
Detective Carter: Mrs. Eleanor Sterling?
Eleanor: This is a private family matter, Detective! My lawyers will have this entire ridiculous claim dismissed before sunset!
Detective Carter: These are official court bank records detailing cross-state blackmail and wire fraud, ma'am. Turn around and put your hands behind your back.
Eleanor: Don't you dare touch me! Do you have any idea who my connections are in this city?!
Detective Carter: I don't care who your connections are. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
The second officer stepped forward, grabbing Eleanor’s wrists and snapping the cold metal handcuffs tightly around her arms. Eleanor shrieked in rage, her diamond bracelets clinking against the steel restraints as her high-priced private guards stood motionless, refusing to intervene.
Eleanor: Julian! Tell them to release me! You are making the biggest mistake of your life!
Julian: The mistake was trusting you for ten years, Eleanor. Take her away.
The officers escorted the screaming matriarch out of the penthouse boardroom. Her loud, frantic protests echoed down the long hallway until the elevator doors finally closed behind her.
The room suddenly fell into a quiet, peaceful silence. Toby looked up at Julian, holding Chloe’s hand tightly.
Toby: Is she really gone, Dad?
Julian: She's gone, Toby. She will never bother us again.
Julian knelt down on the floor in front of his two children, pulling them both into a tight, warm hug.
Julian: I'm so sorry, Toby. I'm so sorry I wasn't there when you and your mother needed me most.
Toby: It's okay, Dad. Mom told me you were a good man. She told me if I could just get the rose to you, everything would be okay.
Julian: She was right, son. Everything is going to be alright now.