Victoria reached into her silver designer clutch bag and pulled out her smartphone, holding it up high.
Victoria: I have all the text messages right here! Julian sent me the instructions at four o'clock today!
Julian: Give me that phone, you crazy bitch!
Julian lunged forward across the table, knocking over water glasses and floral arrangements as he tried to grab Victoria's phone.
Ethan stepped in front of Julian, slamming his hand firmly against Julian's chest and shoving him back into his chair.
Ethan: Touch her phone and I'll break your hand, Julian!
Julian: Ethan, she's trying to frame me! You can't believe a word she says!
Ethan: Hand the phone to Arthur, Victoria. Now!
Victoria handed her silver phone to Arthur, the family lawyer, who quickly unlocked the screen and scrolled through the text history.
Arthur: Good grief... these messages are completely authentic.
Ethan: What do the messages say, Arthur? Read them out loud for everyone to hear.
Arthur: Message from Julian at 4:15 PM: "Make sure Ethan drinks the entire glass during the opening toast. The compound works within ten minutes. It will look like a heart attack."
Gasps of shock echoed through the banquet room as women covered their mouths and men shook their heads in disgust.
Guest A: A heart attack compound?! That's cold-blooded murder!
Guest B: They belong in maximum security prison for the rest of their lives!
Arthur: Second message from Julian at 4:30 PM: "Once the paramedic crew takes him out, I will execute the emergency power of attorney documents and transfer the estate funds into our offshore account."
Ethan: Our offshore account? You were going to flee the country together after taking my father's trust fund money!
Victoria: He threatened to expose my family's bankruptcy if I didn't help him, Ethan! I had no choice!
Ethan: You always have a choice, Victoria! You chose money over my life!
Julian: Arthur, stop reading those fake messages! This is a setup!
Arthur: The phone number sending these orders is registered directly to your corporate mobile line, Julian. The court will have no trouble verifying this evidence.
Julian: You traitorous old lawyer! I pay your legal retainer fees!
Arthur: You don't pay my fees, Julian. The Vance Estate Trust pays my fees, and Ethan is the sole trustee.
Ethan turned back to Maya, who was standing quietly near the kitchen entrance doors.
Ethan: Maya, how did you notice her pouring the liquid in the first place?
Maya: I was adjusting the catering trays near the main table, sir. I saw her glance around nervously before pulling a small bottle from her purse.
Ethan: And you pulled out your phone immediately?
Maya: My mother taught me to always trust my instincts. When I saw her pouring something from an unmarked vial into your glass, I started recording video right away.
Ethan: If you hadn't recorded that clip and smashed my glass, I would be lying on this floor right now.
Maya: I couldn't let innocent blood be spilled on my watch, sir. No matter who was involved.
Ethan: You have more courage and honor than anyone sitting at these luxury tables tonight.
Outside the banquet hall doors, the loud wail of police sirens echoed through the street, growing louder as patrol cars pulled into the valet driveway.
Arthur: That's the police department. They're coming up the elevator right now.
Julian: Ethan... please! We're brothers! Don't let them arrest me in front of the press!
Ethan: You stopped being my brother the second you put a price tag on my life, Julian.