Chloe stepped away from Julian as if he had caught fire, her gold gown catching on the scattered money.
Chloe: Adopted? She's your sister?!
Julian: No! It's a fraud! My father lost his mind at the end!
Arthur: Two independent psychiatric boards certified his sanity, Julian. You're completely locked out. My firm is withdrawing representation effective immediately.
The line clicked dead with a cold, flat tone.
Julian stared at the dead phone, his knuckles turning pale white.
Julian: You stole my life. You manipulated a dying old man to steal my family business!
Clara: Your father begged you to visit him in the hospital for six months. Do you remember what you told him?
Julian swallowed hard, unable to meet her piercing gaze.
Clara: You told him you were too busy entertaining investors in Monaco. You told him not to die during tax season.
Chloe: Julian... is that true? Did you lie about the inheritance transfer?
Julian: Shut your mouth, Chloe! Clara, listen to me. We can make a deal. Fifty-fifty. We split the offshore dividends.
Clara: Five minutes ago, you threw paper on the floor and told me to take my bastard and run.
Julian: I was angry! People say things when they're stressed!
Clara: Liam was born with a congenital heart defect. You cancelled his health insurance policy yesterday morning just to spite me.
Julian: I didn't know he was actually sick!
Clara: The hospital sent three urgent authorization requests directly to your desk. You forwarded them to your shredder.
Chloe gasped, clutching her designer necklace.
Chloe: Julian, you told me the baby was fine and she was just trying to extort alimony!
Clara: He doesn't pay alimony because he never married me. He just wanted to crush anyone who dared remind him of his obligations.
Heavy boots suddenly echoed from the front porch outside.
The heavy mahogany double doors swung inward, revealing two uniformed federal marshals alongside Sheriff Miller.
Sheriff Miller: Mr. Vance? We have an emergency eviction order and asset protection warrant for this property.
Julian stumbled backward against the banister.
Julian: Eviction? This is my primary residence!
Sheriff Miller: The property deed belongs to the Vance Maritime Trust. And Trustee Clara Vance has revoked your occupancy permit.
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