Robert handed the original signed trust documents directly to the court clerk.
The judge put on his reading glasses and inspected every official seal.
The room remained completely silent as the judge turned the thick pages.
He checked the original state land deeds and the certified signature cards.
Judge: The original signatures and corporate seals are completely authentic.
Chad slumped back down into his leather chair like a heavy stone.
Chad: There must be some kind of administrative mistake on those papers.
Mason: There is no mistake, Chad.
Mason pulled out a second stack of white financial bank statements.
Mason: You transferred four million dollars from our workers' pension fund last month.
The audience in the courtroom gasped loudly as reporters began taking notes.
Sarah grabbed her lawyer's sleeve in total desperation and terror.
Sarah: Say something to defend us right now!
Lawyer: I cannot defend fraudulent bank activity, Mrs. Hartley.
The judge slammed his gavel down once again with great force.
Judge: I hereby order all Hartley family bank accounts frozen immediately.
Judge: Mr. Chad Hartley will be taken into custody for bank fraud inquiry.
Two uniformed police officers walked briskly up to Chad's chair.
They placed cold metal handcuffs around Chad's trembling wrists.
Chad: Uncle Mason, please forgive me! I was wrong about you!
Mason: You were wrong about how you treat ordinary working people, Chad.
Sarah began to cry loudly as her son was led away in chains.
Sarah: What will happen to my life and my grand home now?
Lily: You will have to find a real job and pay rent like everyone else.
Mason turned away from his defeated step-sister without another word.
He placed his arm gently around Lily's shoulders as they walked forward.
The crowd cheered loudly for the quiet man who stood up for justice.