Evelyn: Julian, please! She is insane! She was committed to a psychiatric facility after she lost her mind during childbirth!
Clara: I wasn't committed, Evelyn. I was held against my will until my mother's life savings were completely wiped out!
Julian: Is this why you insisted on handling all the medical bills from St. Jude's Hospital, Evelyn?
Evelyn: I was trying to protect you from the grief, Julian! You were devastated when the doctor said she didn't make it!
Julian: You didn't protect me! You lied to me about the mother of my children!
Leo looked up from Clara's lap, wiping his wet eyes with his small silk pajama sleeve.
Leo: Daddy... Is Clara our real mommy?
Julian: Leo, sweetie... Let Daddy figure this out right now.
Toby: She smells like the sweet flowers in the garden, Dad. She doesn't smell like Mommy Evelyn's perfume.
Evelyn: Stop talking, Toby! Go upstairs to your room this instant!
Evelyn lunged forward, grabbing Toby by his small wrist. The boy let out a sharp cry of pain as she pulled him violently away from Clara.
Toby: Ow! You're hurting my arm!
Clara: Get your hands off my son!
Clara stood up instantly, stepping between Evelyn and the child. Before Evelyn could react, Clara raised her hand and delivered a sharp, thunderous slap straight across Evelyn's face.
The heavy impact crack echoed off the high marble walls like a gunshot. Evelyn gasped in shock, her head snapping sideways as she stumbled back three steps, clutching her reddening cheek with both hands.
Evelyn: You... You struck me?! In my own home?!
Clara: You stole seven years of my life, Evelyn. Do not ever lay your hands on my children again!
Julian: Security, step back! Nobody touches Clara!
The two guards froze, keeping their distance near the double doors as Evelyn glared at Clara with pure hatred in her eyes.
Evelyn: Julian, she just assaulted me! You are going to let a servant assault your wife?!
Julian: You are not my wife if our marriage was built on a stolen life and a forged death certificate, Evelyn.
Julian pulled his smartphone from his tuxedo pocket, his fingers tapping the screen with furious speed as he brought the device to his ear.
Evelyn: Who are you calling?!
Julian: I am calling Harrison Vance, the chief legal counsel for the Montgomery estate trust fund.
Evelyn: No! Julian, don't call Vance! We can talk about this in private!
Julian: We are done talking in private, Evelyn. It is time to open the vault files.
The phone speaker chimed as the lawyer answered on the third ring.
Lawyer Vance: Good evening, Mr. Montgomery. Is everything alright at the palace?
Julian: Vance, I need you to open the digital birth registry files for Leo and Toby from St. Jude's Hospital immediately.
Lawyer Vance: Sir? Those files were sealed seven years ago by Mrs. Evelyn's private legal team.
Julian: As CEO of Montgomery Global, I am revoking her proxy authority right now. Open the original birth records and read me the biological mother's name on line one.
Evelyn let out a hysterical scream, lunging toward Julian to snatch the phone from his hands.
Evelyn: Hang up that phone right now!