Clara: Julian, tell these security guards to back away from me right now!
Julian: Nobody is touching you, Clara. But nobody is letting you walk out those doors either.
Clara: This is false imprisonment! I'll sue every single person in this room!
Board Member Harris: You won't be suing anyone, young lady. My firm handles Richard's corporate estate.
Mr. Harris stepped out from the crowd of guests, adjusting his silver wire glasses.
Board Member Harris: We received a digital copy of that affidavit forty minutes ago, Julian.
Julian: Harris, why wasn't I informed before this party started?
Board Member Harris: Because your name is listed on paragraph four as a secondary beneficiary, Julian.
Julian's eyes widened as he snapped his head toward the massive wall projection.
Julian: What? What are you implying?
Mia: You didn't push Clara because you were angry about dad, did you Uncle Julian?
Julian: Mia, don't start pointing fingers at me. I took you in when your father passed!
Mia: You took me in so you could control the monthly allowance from the estate.
Julian: That is an absolute lie! I have poured my own salary into this mansion!
Mia: Then why did you tell Clara you would split the real estate portfolio fifty-fifty once I turned eighteen?
Clara suddenly let out a sharp, mocking laugh from the catering doorway.
Clara: Tell her, Julian! Tell your perfect little niece how you begged me to sign the deed over to your LLC!
Julian: Shut your mouth, Clara!
Clara: Oh, now you want me quiet? Two hours ago you were kissing me in the hallway promising we'd be in France together!
The crowd gasped louder, wine glasses clinking against trays as servers froze in place.
Guest Two: He was leaving with her? But he's married to Senator Hayes's sister!
Julian: None of this is true! Clara has lost her mind!
Mia: Tap the phone screen, Mr. Harris. The audio file is labeled 'Study Desk Two PM'.
Mr. Harris lifted his tablet and pressed play into the hall microphone system.
Julian's voice echoed through the high ceilings with crystal clarity.
Speaker Audio: "Make sure the girl is asleep before you pack the lockbox. We leave right after the toast."
Speaker Audio: "What about the trust lawyer?"
Speaker Audio: "He's paid off. The papers will say Richard had dementia."
The recording cut off with a click, leaving the ballroom in a suffocating quiet.
Julian looked down at his patent leather shoes, his chest heaving.
Julian: Mia... you don't understand the pressure the family business was under.
Mia: Dad understood it. That's why he never gave you signing authority on the corporate accounts.
Julian: Richard was reckless! He was going to give half the company away to charity!
Mia: He gave it to the children's hospital that treated my mother.
Julian: And left us with nothing!
Mia: He left you the house in Vermont, Uncle Julian. But that wasn't enough for you, was it?
Clara took advantage of the distraction and lunged toward the side exit.
Security Officer: Ma'am, do not move. Stay right where you are.
Clara: Get your hands off me! I am a guest of honor tonight!
Security Officer: Not anymore, ma'am. Detectives from the financial crimes division are waiting in the foyer.
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