Evelyn glared at Julian with pure disgust, astonished that a hired driver would dare to stand in her way.
She straightened her costly designer dress and took a slow step back, narrowing her eyes with calculation.
Evelyn: You think you can protect her, driver? You are nothing in this house.
Julian: I will not stand by and watch you bully your late husband's daughter.
Evelyn: Since you care so much about her fate, perhaps you should share it with her.
Clara looked between Julian and Evelyn, feeling a cold wave of panic wash over her chest.
She knew Evelyn was capable of terrible cruelty, but she did not understand what her stepmother meant yet.
Clara: Leave Julian out of this, Evelyn! He has done nothing wrong!
Evelyn: On the contrary, he just gave me the most wonderful idea for your future.
Evelyn walked over to the large fireplace mantel, leaning against the cold stone as she smiled evilly.
Evelyn: My late husband's will states you must be married before thirty to claim any cash trust fund.
Clara: My father wanted me to find a loving husband on my own terms!
Evelyn: Well, you are going to marry Julian by the end of this month instead.
Julian stood tall, his jaw tightly clenched as he listened to Evelyn's ridiculous demand.
Julian: Marriage is not something you can force upon two people like a chore.
Evelyn: If Clara marries a humble driver, the court trust fund defaults entirely to my legal control.
Clara: That was your plan all along! You want to lock away my inheritance forever!
Evelyn: Exactly. You will marry him, or I sell your mother's cottage today.
Clara covered her mouth with her trembling hand, feeling completely trapped by her stepmother's greedy terms.
The family cottage was the only memory she had left of her late mother's quiet, loving life.
Julian turned to look at Clara, his tone softening dramatically as he spoke to the frightened woman.
Julian: We do not have to let her win, Clara. We can figure another way out.
Clara: She holds all the legal deeds, Julian. She will demolish the cottage tomorrow.
Julian: Then let us call her bluff and agree to the arrangement for now.
Clara looked into Julian's steady eyes, surprised by the calm confidence he radiated in this moment.
She had only known him as the quiet man who maintained the estate vehicles with steady dedication.
Evelyn: Decide right now, Clara! My lawyer is waiting on the phone line upstairs!
Clara: Fine. I will marry Julian to save my mother's cottage from your hands.
Evelyn: Wonderful! The cheap ceremony will happen right here in the courtyard next week!