Three days later, the city's annual business charity gala was held at the grand downtown hotel ballrooms. Crystal chandeliers hung high above polished marble floors, where dozens of wealthy local business owners and real estate executives gathered in dark tuxedos and evening gowns. Brenda, desperate to save her social status, showed up uninvited, wearing a glittering red gown and heavy makeup to hide her anxiety.
She walked through the crowded room with a champagne glass in her hand, trying to talk to wealthy board members and pretend that everything was fine at home. But as she walked toward the center of the room, she saw Arthur and Victoria standing near the main stage, talking animatedly with the district attorney and several police detectives.
Brenda: Arthur! What a lovely surprise to see you here tonight.
Arthur: You were explicitly told not to come here, Brenda.
Brenda: I am still your wife, Arthur. I have every right to attend our charity events.
Victoria: You won't be his wife for much longer, Brenda. The court papers were filed this morning.
Brenda: You insolent little girl! You ruined my whole life!
Brenda stepped forward angrily, raising her hand as if to slap Victoria in front of the entire crowd. But before her hand could move an inch, two uniformed police officers stepped out from behind the velvet curtains near the stage. The music inside the grand ballroom stopped abruptly as guests turned around to watch the scene unfold.
Officer Davis: Brenda Vance? You need to step away from the young lady right now.
Brenda: What is the meaning of this? Do you know who I am?
Officer Davis: We have a warrant for your arrest for wire fraud, embezzlement, and felony assault.
Brenda: This is a mistake! My husband is keying up a false narrative!
Arthur: The police have all the security footage from the pool deck, Brenda. Every single frame.
Gasps echoed through the wealthy crowd as the police officer pulled Brenda's hands behind her back, clicking heavy steel handcuffs around her wrists. Her glass of champagne slipped from her fingers, crashing onto the shiny marble floor and shattering into dozens of tiny pieces. The red wine pooled across the floor, looking like the roses Arthur had dropped days before.
Brenda: Arthur, do not let them do this to me! Tell them to stop!
Arthur: You chose your own path when you pushed my daughter into that pool.
Victoria: Goodbye, Brenda. Enjoy your new life.
Brenda: You will pay for this, Victoria! I will come back for everything!
Officer Davis: Keep moving, ma'am. You have the right to remain silent.