The heavy oak doors of the banquet hall slammed shut as security guards stepped in front of the exits.
Victoria backed into a decorative pillar, her expensive leather heels clicking frantically against the floor.
Victoria: You can't lock me in here! This is illegal restraint!
Ethan: Attempted murder is illegal, Victoria!
Victoria: I didn't attempt anything! You have no proof that liquid was dangerous!
Ethan: The proof is bubbling on the marble floor right behind you!
Ethan walked toward the shattered glass, pointing down at the greenish residue burning into the white floor tile.
Ethan: Arthur, what kind of legal sentence does attempted murder carry in this state?
Arthur: Up to twenty-five years in state prison without parole, Ethan.
Victoria: Twenty-five years?! Are you insane?! I am a member of the city foundation board!
Ethan: Not anymore! You're a criminal who got caught on camera!
Maya: Sir, there's something else you should know about the glass vial.
Ethan: What is it, Maya? Tell me everything.
Maya: When I was preparing the seafood appetizers in the back kitchen, I saw her meeting someone near the supply storage area.
Ethan: Meeting someone? Who was she meeting?
Victoria: Shut your mouth, you low-class cook! Don't you dare say another word!
Ethan: Keep talking, Maya! Who gave her that chemical vial?
Maya: It was a tall man in a dark tuxedo with a silver watch on his left wrist.
Ethan froze, his eyes widening as he slowly turned his head toward the VIP table near the stage.
Sitting at the center table was his stepbrother, Julian, who was nervously adjusting his silver luxury watch.
Ethan: Julian... why are you shaking?
Julian: Ethan... brother, I have nothing to do with this crazy woman's actions!
Ethan: I didn't say your name, Julian. Why are you defending yourself?
Julian: Because... because she's pointing in my direction!
Ethan: Maya said a man with a silver watch. Half the men in this room are wearing silver watches.
Julian: Exactly! So why are you staring at me like that?!
Ethan: Because you were the one who insisted I sign over my corporate voting rights before the wedding banquet tonight!
Julian: I asked for your voting rights so our real estate firm could close the municipal mortgage deal!
Ethan: Or so you could take control of the family business the second I was put in a hospital bed!
Victoria: Julian, tell him the truth! Tell him it was your idea!
Julian: Shut up, you stupid foolish woman!
The entire banquet hall erupted into loud shouting as the truth spilled out in front of three hundred high-society guests.
Guest C: His own stepbrother was in on the plot?!
Guest D: This is absolute madness! They tried to kill the heir to the estate!
Ethan: You two planned this together, didn't you?
Julian: Ethan, listen to me! She's lying to save her own skin! I would never hurt my own family!
Ethan: Family? You've hated me ever since father named me primary trustee of his estate fund!
Julian: Father was old and out of his mind when he signed that will!
Ethan: He knew you were greedy and ruthless, Julian! That's why he left the controlling shares to me!
Victoria: Julian promised me three million dollars from the life insurance payout if I dropped the liquid into your glass!
Julian: You lying snake! I never signed any deal with you!
Victoria: I have the text messages on my phone, Julian! I saved every single one of them!