Mark raised an eyebrow and looked back and forth between Victoria and Julian.
Mark: What debt are you talking about, Julian?
Julian laughed bitterly and shook his head while looking directly at Victoria's nervous face.
Julian: She lost two million dollars in overseas investments right before she married you.
Julian: She promised me full access to your family estate to cover her debts.
Victoria squeezed her eyes shut as tears began to spill down her red-tinted cheeks.
Victoria: I was trying to pay him back so he wouldn't tell you about my past!
Mark: You used my daughter's future as leverage to cover your personal debts?
Victoria: I was going to replace the funds as soon as my real estate deal closed!
Mark: There was no real estate deal, was there, Victoria?
Victoria remained silent, staring down at the water-stained marble floor beneath her feet.
Mark looked down at the second page of the document he was holding in his hand.
It showed a fake power of attorney signature that looked remarkably similar to his own handwriting.
Victoria had forged Mark's legal signature on three separate banking authorization forms.
The scheme was designed to transfer control of the estate trust fund within thirty days.
If Lily had not accidentally knocked over the vase, the transfer would have been completed silently.
Mark felt a cold wave of disappointment wash over his chest as he realized the truth.
His entire two-year marriage had been built on a calculated financial lie from the start.
Mark: You never cared about me or Lily at all, did you?
Victoria: I did love you, Mark, but I was so terrified of losing everything!
Mark: You lost everything the moment you targeted my motherless daughter.
The heavy front door swung open and two uniformed estate security guards entered the foyer.
Mark's chief security manager, Arthur, stepped forward with a serious look on his face.
Arthur: You called for immediate assistance, Mr. Sterling?