Julian Sterling crossed the grand foyer in four long, thunderous strides, shoving aside two private guards without breaking stride.
He dropped to his knee right beside Emily, gently cupping her shoulder to help her sit upright.
Julian: Are you hurt, Emily?
Emily looked up at him through blurred vision, trembling so violently she could barely speak.
Emily: Julian... she tore up the lease agreements... she said I was a thief...
Eleanor: Don't coddle that little parasite, Julian! She tried to lock me out of the estate accounts this morning!
Julian slowly rose to his feet, towering over Eleanor like an oncoming storm.
He reached into his tailored breast pocket and whipped out a thick, stamped legal document bearing the official seal of the state probate court.
He shoved the paper directly in front of Eleanor's face, his voice ringing with pure steel.
Julian: She holds the master deed to this entire estate, not you!
Eleanor's jaw unhinged, her breath catching in her throat as her eyes frantically scanned the bold letters on the first page.
Eleanor: Wait, no... that's impossible! Father left the master estate to the Sterling Blood Trust!
Julian: Father knew exactly what kind of greedy viper you were, Eleanor. He transferred sole ownership of the land and mansion to Emily forty-eight hours before he passed.
The gathered guests gasped, murmurs spreading through the room like wildfire.
Eleanor: That will was forged! She manipulated an old dying man! I will have my lawyers contest every comma in court!
Julian: You don't have lawyers anymore, Eleanor. The Texas Attorney General froze your firm's retainer accounts fifteen minutes ago.
Eleanor pressed her back flat against the wall, her hands flying to her mouth as total panic set in.
Eleanor: What... what did you do?
Julian: We audited the offshore foundations. We found the seventy million dollars you embezzled from Father's medical care fund.
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