The yacht's captain slowed the engines, bringing the large boat to a gentle drift on the water. A crew member ran forward with warm towels and blankets, wrapping them around Sarah and Leo. Arthur remained on his knees on the wooden deck, his dark suit soaked in salt water, his chest heaving as he tried to regain his breath. His red pocket square was drenched, but his eyes were sharp and furious as he turned to look at Victoria and Richard walking slowly toward them.
Arthur: What in God's name happened out here? How did Sarah and Leo end up hanging over the bow railing?
Victoria: It was an accident, Arthur! She lost her footing while chasing some trash papers in the high wind!
Sarah: They were not trash papers, Arthur! They were legal papers that your wife and brother tried to force me to sign!
Sarah reached down into her soaked dress pocket and pulled out the crumpled, wet pages she had managed to shove inside right before she slipped. She handed the wet stack directly to Arthur with trembling hands.
Sarah: Read them, Arthur. Read what they wanted me to sign away while we were out on this ocean.
Arthur took the wet papers and unfolded them carefully. His eyes scanned the precise legal language written by Richard. He saw the clause stripping Sarah of her maternal rights over Julian's estate, and the legal transfer of Leo's entire trust fund directly into Victoria's personal bank account.
Arthur: Is this true, Richard? Did you draft a fraudulent agreement to steal my late son's trust from his widow?
Richard: Arthur, listen to reason. Sarah is young and inexperienced. She would have wasted that money within five years!
Victoria: We were only trying to keep the Sterling family business intact, Arthur! Julian was my son too!
Arthur: You were trying to rob a grieving mother and a helpless six-year-old child! On my ship! On my birthday!
Arthur stood up slowly, his body shaking with pure rage. He stared at his wife with a deep look of disappointment that seemed to shatter her calm exterior completely. Victoria took a step back, her mouth opening and closing without making a sound.
Arthur: You lied to me, Victoria. You told me Sarah wanted to sell her shares in the company to buy a mansion in Europe.
Sarah: I never said that! I only ever wanted Leo to have the life his father worked so hard to build for him!
Arthur: I know that now. My son loved you because you were honest and kind, things that seem to be lacking in this family.
Richard stepped forward, adjusting his glasses nervously while holding his corporate tablet in front of his chest like a shield.
Richard: Arthur, as the legal head of Sterling Global, you must think about the board members and stock prices. A public trial would ruin our reputation!
Arthur: My reputation means nothing if my own family lacks a conscience, Richard. You are fired as our corporate counsel, effective right now.