Victoria stood up slowly while leaning against the huge Christmas tree.
Her expensive dress was covered in dust and torn green gift ribbons.
Victoria: That boy is eight years old and knows nothing about money!
Grandfather: He does not need to know about money to be protected.
Grandfather: But you two certainly knew about his inheritance money very well.
Richard took a step forward while trying to look calm and confident.
Richard: Dad, we brought him in here to give him a home.
Grandfather: You brought him here to control his mother's voting shares!
Grandfather: You needed his proxy vote to stay chief executive officer this year.
The air in the white marble foyer grew heavy with truth.
Richard turned his face away toward the broken glass on the carpet.
Richard: The board needed stability after my sister passed away spring term.
Grandfather: You locked him in the back bedroom and treated him terribly.
Grandfather: You took his mother's life insurance payout for your own use.
Victoria: That money went toward his private schooling and care expenses!
Grandfather: He is wearing shoes with holes while standing in deep snow!
Grandfather pointed his wooden cane directly at Richard's formal suit jacket.
Grandfather: You bought luxury sports cars while this child suffered in silence.
Grandfather: You made him feel worthless in his own family's house.
Leo looked down at his worn shoes and touched the small holes.
He had tried to tell his uncle that the shoes were too tiny.
Richard had only yelled at him to stop complaining about small things.
Richard: We were going to buy him new winter clothes tomorrow afternoon.
Grandfather: You have had four months to buy him proper warm winter clothes.
Grandfather: Instead, you threw his handmade gift into a cold snow drift.
Grandfather took a step toward the middle of the large grand hallway.
He raised his voice so it echoed into the grand dining room.
Grandfather: Your corporate board members are sitting in the next room now.
Grandfather: Let us go ask them what they think of your leadership.