Arthur walked toward the private library located at the back of the estate venue.
He held baby Lily safely in one arm while checking his phone for updates from his attorney.
The hallway was quiet, away from the loud music playing inside the main ballroom area.
Suddenly he heard quiet whispers coming from inside the dark study room down the hall.
He slowed his pace and stood near the doorway to listen closer to the conversation.
Victoria: Make sure those fake financial records are placed inside his coat pocket right now.
Lawyer: Are you sure about this, Victoria? Framing him for theft is a serious federal crime.
Victoria: He is taking away thirty million dollars that belongs to my sons, so do it.
Lawyer: If Marcus finds out about this scheme, he will remove you from his will entirely.
Victoria: Marcus will believe whatever I tell him once the police show up at the gala.
Arthur felt his blood run cold as he heard every single word of their evil plan.
He took out his smartphone and quietly started recording the audio near the open door frame.
Victoria handed a thick manila envelope over to the corrupt attorney standing beside her.
Lawyer: I will place the papers inside his laptop bag during the main speech tonight.
Victoria: Make sure everyone sees the security guards escort him out of the building in handcuffs.
Arthur backed away slowly so they would not catch him listening in the dark hallway.
He accidentally brushed against a tall bronze statue sitting on a small wooden pedestal.
The statue made a loud ringing noise as it rattled against the hard floor structure.
Victoria snapped her head toward the doorway with a look of pure surprise and anger.
Victoria: Who is standing out there in the hallway right now!
Arthur turned around immediately and hurried back toward the main ballroom area with his daughter.
His heart was beating fast as he navigated through the heavy crowd of dressed-up guests.
He needed to reach Marcus before Victoria and her lawyer could execute their dishonest trap.
Victoria rushed out of the study, her green silk dress rustling loudly against the floor.
She spotted Arthur near the middle of the hall and called out to the venue security staff.
Victoria: Stop that man! He has stolen confidential documents from my private study room!
The guests stopped talking and turned their heads in complete shock at the sudden loud scene.
Two large security guards in black suits immediately moved across the floor toward Arthur.
Arthur stood his ground under the massive American flag hanging near the front stage podium.
Arthur: I did not steal anything from you, Victoria, and you know that is a lie!
Victoria: Search his bag right now before he tries to destroy the evidence he took!
The crowd gasped as the security guards stepped closer to Arthur and his small infant child.
Arthur shielded his daughter while keeping his phone secured tightly inside his inner coat pocket.