Julian stared down at the paper as if it were burning his fingertips[span_138](start_span)[span_138](end_span).
Julian: Mother... tell me this is a joke. Tell me Dad didn't write this[span_139](start_span)[span_139](end_span).
Victoria: Arthur was losing his mind! He was on heavy pain medication! Any probate judge will throw this garbage out in five minutes[span_140](start_span)[span_140](end_span)!
Elena: The codicil was signed in the presence of two independent neurologists and the presiding Chief Justice of the state appellate court, Victoria. Arthur made certain it was airtight[span_141](start_span)[span_141](end_span).
Julian: Oh my God... if she doesn't sign the prenup, we lose the wedding. But if she does sign it, we triggered Dad's clause and lose every single dollar[span_142](start_span)[span_142](end_span)[span_143](start_span)[span_143](end_span)!
Victoria: Shut up, Julian! Let me think[span_144](start_span)[span_144](end_span)!
Elena: There’s nothing to think about. Your greed just checkmated your entire dynasty[span_145](start_span)[span_145](end_span).
Julian suddenly grabbed the thick prenuptial custody waiver off the table and tore the pages straight down the center[span_146](start_span)[span_146](end_span)[span_147](start_span)[span_147](end_span).
Victoria: Julian! Stop tearing those documents right now[span_148](start_span)[span_148](end_span)!
Julian: Are you out of your mind, Mother? She has us by the throat! I'm not losing thirty million dollars because of your stupid custody games[span_149](start_span)[span_149](end_span)[span_150](start_span)[span_150](end_span)!
The ripped halves of the prenup fluttered to the floor, scattering around Victoria's designer heels[span_151](start_span)[span_151](end_span)[span_152](start_span)[span_152](end_span).
Julian: Elena, look at me. I ripped it up. It’s gone. It never happened[span_153](start_span)[span_153](end_span).
Elena: It did happen, Julian. You sat there for twenty minutes and let your mother threaten my unborn baby[span_154](start_span)[span_154](end_span).
Julian: I was just stressed! I was confused by the legal terms! You know I love you more than anything in this world[span_155](start_span)[span_155](end_span)!
Elena: You don't love me, Julian. You love your comfort, you love your sports cars, and you love your mother's permission[span_156](start_span)[span_156](end_span)[span_157](start_span)[span_157](end_span).
Elena reached down to her left hand and slowly twisted the massive four-carat diamond engagement ring off her knuckle[span_158](start_span)[span_158](end_span)[span_159](start_span)[span_159](end_span).
Julian: No, Elena, please don't take off the ring. Put it back on! We have eight hundred guests flying into New York tomorrow[span_160](start_span)[span_160](end_span)[span_161](start_span)[span_161](end_span)!
Elena: Then you better hire a caterer to feed them an apology dinner[span_162](start_span)[span_162](end_span).
Elena placed the sparkling diamond ring directly in the center of the torn paperwork on the mahogany wood[span_163](start_span)[span_163](end_span)[span_164](start_span)[span_164](end_span).
Victoria: Julian, let the ungrateful girl walk! She has no right to disrespect this family[span_165](start_span)[span_165](end_span)!
Elena: Disrespect? Victoria, you committed wire fraud to cover your stock market losses. You disrespected your own family decades ago[span_166](start_span)[span_166](end_span).
Victoria: If you walk out of this room with those audit files, my private security team will seize your bag before you reach the front lobby[span_167](start_span)[span_167](end_span)!
Elena: Try it, Victoria. The local police chief and three federal investigators are sitting in an unmarked sedan right outside your security gate[span_168](start_span)[span_168](end_span).
Victoria gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as her eyes widened in sheer panic[span_169](start_span)[span_169](end_span).
Victoria: You brought the federal authorities to my club rehearsal dinner?[span_170](start_span)[span_170](end_span)
Elena: Arthur told me never to trust a Sterling without backup[span_171](start_span)[span_171](end_span).
Julian: Elena, you're ruining everything! What about the baby? What about my son?[span_172](start_span)[span_172](end_span)
Elena: My baby will never grow up thinking a parent's love can be bought with a trust fund settlement[span_173](start_span)[span_173](end_span)[span_174](start_span)[span_174](end_span).
Elena turned away from the table, her head held high as she walked toward the foyer[span_175](start_span)[span_175](end_span).
Victoria: You won't make it to Monday morning with your reputation intact! I will ruin you in the press[span_176](start_span)[span_176](end_span)!
Elena: The press already has the press release, Victoria. And unlike yours, mine comes with bank receipts[span_177](start_span)[span_177](end_span).
Julian stumbled forward, reaching out a trembling arm toward her ivory silk dress[span_178](start_span)[span_178](end_span).
Julian: Elena, please, don't do this to me! I'll beg if you want me to[span_179](start_span)[span_179](end_span)!
Elena: Keep your dignity, Julian. If you have any left at all[span_180](start_span)[span_180](end_span).