Eleanor: Arthur, you traitor! I paid you a retainer fee of fifty thousand dollars last month!
Lawyer: Which has been deposited into an escrow account pending the criminal investigation, Mrs. Vance.
Victoria: You thought if you told everyone I was dead, you could sweep my father's ninety-million-dollar estate into your personal bank accounts.
Eleanor: I was Richard's lawful wife! I spent six years taking care of him while you were hiding out overseas!
Victoria: You married my father when his dementia was already severe! You forced him to sign an amended will six months before he passed away!
Eleanor: That will was verified by a judge! It is completely legal and binding!
Lawyer: Actually, Eleanor, the probate court suspended the execution of that will two hours ago when we presented official medical records showing Richard lacked legal capacity at the time of signing.
The surrounding guests began murmuring excitedly, pulling out their phones to record the drama unfolding in the grand hall.
Guest 1: Did you hear that? The whole will was fraudulent!
Guest 2: Eleanor has been spending millions of the Vance estate money on luxury cars and private jets!
Guest 1: She tried to kick Richard's real daughter out of the trust fund!
Eleanor: Shut up, all of you! Mind your own business!
Victoria: Look around, Eleanor. None of these people are your friends. They only tolerated you because of my father's money.
Eleanor: You think you can just show up at a charity gala and take everything I worked for?
Victoria: You didn't work for anything. You manipulated a sick old man and abused my daughter the first chance you got.
Eleanor: That brat ruined my dress with juice!
Victoria: She's a child! You grabbed her arm hard enough to leave bruises because you recognized her face, didn't you?
Eleanor remained silent, her face pale as she glared at the young girl hiding behind Victoria's golden gown.
Victoria: You saw her eyes, and you knew she was Richard's granddaughter. You wanted to intimidate her so we would leave the city without fighting back.
Eleanor: I don't know what you're talking about!
Victoria: You knew if Lily stepped foot in this building, the board members would immediately see the family resemblance.
Lily: Mommy, my arm still hurts real bad.
Victoria: I know, sweetie. Show the officer your arm.
Two uniformed police officers walked into the grand hall, led by the hotel manager who looked completely panicked.
Police Officer 1: Is there a problem over here? We received a call regarding physical assault and child endangerment.
Eleanor: Officer! Thank God you're here! This crazy woman assaulted me! Look at my cheek! She slapped me and shoved me to the ground!
Victoria: I slapped her because she was physically grabbing my eight-year-old daughter and bruising her arm.
Police Officer 1: Let me see the child's arm, please.
Victoria gently lifted Lily's sleeve, revealing distinct red marks shaped like fingers across the young girl's pale skin.
Police Officer 1: Ma'am, did you cause these marks on this child?
Eleanor: It was an accident! She was running around spilling drinks! I was just holding her until security came!
Lawyer: Officer, we also have high-definition security footage from the hall camera right above us. It clearly shows Mrs. Vance grabbing the child aggressively and screaming at her before any physical defense took place.
Police Officer 1: Step over here, ma'am. We need to take your statement.
Eleanor: I am Eleanor Vance! You can't treat me like a common criminal!
Police Officer 1: Ma'am, calm down or you will be placed under arrest for disorderly conduct and child abuse.