Richard stared at the gold watch with a dark expression spreading across his face.
He remembered taking that exact watch from Arthur's desk before the ocean voyage.
He realized that Arthur must have retrieved it from his personal cabin vault.
Richard: That watch proves nothing in a modern court of law, Arthur.
Arthur: It proves that I know what you did to my ship engine.
Sarah stood near the door and watched the intense conflict unfold between them.
She could feel the deep hatred rising in the grand hallway like heat.
Richard adjusted his silk tie and took a step closer toward his brother.
Richard: You were weak, Arthur, and you wasted our father's vast estate.
Arthur: I gave our workers fair pay and supported the local community schools.
Richard: You gave away millions while I built real power in this city.
Arthur stepped forward until he was standing inches away from his younger brother.
He did not raise his hand, but his quiet voice carried tremendous power.
Arthur: You paid my captain to sabotage the ship's rudder before we sailed.
Richard: That is a lie, and no judge will ever take your word.
Richard reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his gold cell phone.
He prepared to call private security guards to haul Arthur off the property.
Sarah took a deep breath and decided to speak up for the truth.
Sarah: I have seen the legal letters in your private study room, sir.
Richard turned his head sharply toward the young maid with eyes wide open.
Richard: You will shut your mouth right now if you want to leave.
Sarah: He paid a man in Florida monthly through the main estate account.
Arthur looked at Sarah with deep gratitude for her courage in that moment.
The truth was finally starting to break through Richard's thick wall of lies.
Richard snapped his fingers in anger and pointed a sharp finger at Sarah.
Richard: You are fired, and I will see that you never work again.
Arthur: You do not fire anyone in my house, Richard, ever again.
Arthur grabbed the landline phone mounted on the wall near the wooden archway.
He dialed a private number that he had remembered through all those years.
It was the direct line to the city sheriff who knew their father well.