Older Woman: You slapped me! You actually put your hands on me!
Mother: I will do a lot more than slap you if you ever lay a hand on my child again!
Older Woman: How dare you! Do you have any idea who I am?! You'll regret this for the rest of your life!
Mother: I don't care who you think you are. You touched an eight-year-old girl!
Young Girl: Mommy... she grabbed my arm real hard... it hurts.
The mother knelt down briefly, checking her daughter's wrist where red finger marks were already starting to form under the skin.
Mother: I know, baby. I'm right here. Nobody is ever going to hurt you again.
Older Woman: Someone call security right now! Arrest this insane woman!
A circle of wealthy party guests gathered around the scene, whispering loudly to one another while looking down at the older woman on the floor.
Guest 1: Is that Eleanor Vance? The wife of the real estate mogul?
Guest 2: Yes, that's her! Who is that woman in the gold dress? Is she crazy?
Guest 1: She just slapped the most powerful woman in the city right in the middle of the charity gala!
Eleanor scrambled to her feet, her dark velvet dress covered in dust from the marble tiles. Her face was red with embarrassment and anger as she pointed a shaking finger at the mother.
Eleanor: You are done in this city! Do you hear me?! My husband owns the firm that manages this entire hotel!
Mother: Then tell your husband to hire better security, because you're the one acting like an animal.
Eleanor: You insolent, gold-digging tramp! What is your name?!
Mother: My name is Victoria Vance.
The crowd went instantly silent. Eleanor froze in her tracks, her mouth hanging open in complete shock.
Eleanor: What... what did you just say?
Victoria: You heard me. I am Victoria Vance. And this little girl you just called trash is Lily Vance.
Eleanor: That's impossible! Richard only had one daughter from his first marriage, and she moved to Europe ten years ago!
Victoria: I came back to New York three days ago, Eleanor. And I see you've made yourself right at home with my late father's fortune.
Eleanor: You're lying! Richard's daughter died in a car crash in Paris! I saw the reports!
Victoria: You saw forged reports that you paid a shady French investigator to fabricate so you could claim full control of the estate!
Eleanor backed away a step, her eyes darting toward the security guards who were finally pushing their way through the thick crowd of guests.
Eleanor: Security! Remove this fraud from the building immediately! She is using a fake identity!
Victoria: Don't bother, Eleanor. The police are already on their way, and so is the estate executor.
Lily: Mommy... is that the mean lady who stole Grandpa's house?
Victoria: Yes, Lily. That's her. But she isn't going to keep it much longer.
A tall man in a dark grey suit stepped out from behind the crowd, holding a leather briefcase. He walked directly up to Victoria and nodded respectfully.
Lawyer: Good evening, Victoria. I have the certified DNA records and the original trust agreement ready, just as you requested.
Eleanor: Arthur?! What are you doing with this imposter?! You're supposed to be my family attorney!
Lawyer: I was Richard Vance's personal attorney, Eleanor. My loyalty has always been to his true legal heir.