The city courthouse was packed with reporters and wealthy business leaders the next morning.
Chad and Sarah sat proudly at the front table in expensive navy suits.
They smiled for the cameras, confident that they owned the whole company.
Chad adjusted his silk tie and leaned over to speak to his mother.
Chad: Today we take final legal possession of the entire Hartley trust.
Sarah: Nobody can stop us from claiming what is rightfully ours.
The heavy courtroom doors swung wide open at the back of the room.
Mason walked slowly down the center aisle wearing a sharp dark suit.
Lily walked right beside him, holding a thick black leather binder.
Chad stood up quickly and pointed his finger down the narrow aisle.
Chad: What is this old janitor doing inside this high courtroom?
Sarah: Judge, please have security throw these street intruders out!
The judge slammed his heavy wooden gavel down three loud times.
Judge: Silence in this courtroom right now!
The chief legal representative Robert stepped forward with a warm smile.
Robert: Your Honor, I represent the true chairman of the Hartley estate.
Chad laughed out loud and patted his lawyer on the back.
Chad: My father was the chairman, and he passed away last year!
Robert: Your late father was only a minority partner in the firm.
Robert pointed directly toward Mason, who stood straight and tall.
Robert: The majority owner standing right here is Mr. Mason Hartley.
Sarah's face turned completely pale as she leaned against her chair.
Sarah: That is impossible! Mason disappeared twenty years ago!
Mason: I never left the house you lived in, Sarah.
Mason stepped right up to the front legal table with quiet dignity.
Mason: I cleaned the floors while you planned how to steal my life.
Chad shook his head in complete disbelief as his hands started shaking.
Chad: You are lying! You are just a poor old service worker!
Judge: Present the official identification documents to the court right now.