Evelyn scrambled to her feet, her expensive veil torn and hanging sideways off her dark hair. She looked around frantically, but the two hundred guests were staring at her with cold disgust. Her wealthy friends, who hours ago were complimenting her taste, stepped back to avoid her touch.
Evelyn: You think you're so smart, Arthur? You think Thomas was an angel? He was going to bankrupt your entire real estate firm!
Arthur: Shut your mouth! Do not speak my son's name!
Evelyn: He found out about the offshore accounts! He was going to expose the family business to the IRS!
Arthur: What offshore accounts? What are you talking about?
Evelyn: Oh, don't play innocent now! Your brother Marcus set those up five years ago! Thomas was going to blow the whistle on the entire Vance empire!
Arthur's head snapped around toward the front row of guest chairs, where his younger brother, Marcus Vance, was standing stiffly, his face pale as chalk.
Arthur: Marcus? What is she talking about?
Marcus: She's lying, Arthur! She's crazy! She's trying to drag everyone down with her!
Evelyn: Am I lying, Marcus? Should I tell Arthur about the two hundred thousand dollars you wired into my private account last night to make sure I finished the wedding today?
A heavy, stifling silence fell over the room. The guests held their breath as Arthur slowly walked away from Evelyn and approached his brother.
Arthur: Marcus... look me in the eye. Tell me she's lying.
Marcus: She... she promised me a cut of the estate payout, Arthur! I was in debt! The casino debts in Macau were going to ruin me!
Arthur: You helped her? You helped this monster kill your own nephew?!
Marcus: I didn't know she was going to sabotage his car! I swear to God, Arthur, I didn't know about the brakes! I thought she was just going to blackmail him into silence!
Leo: He's lying too, Grandpa! Mom showed me the emails! Uncle Marcus bought the tools for her!
Arthur: My own brother... My own flesh and blood...
Arthur gripped the edge of a mahogany chair to steady himself. The betrayal cut deeper than any physical wound ever could. The two people he trusted most in the world after his son's death had conspired to destroy his family from the inside out.
Evelyn: It was business, Arthur! Thomas was weak! He was going to destroy everything you built because of his stupid morals!
Arthur: My son had honor! Something neither of you will ever understand!
Marcus: Arthur, please, we can fix this! Don't involve the authorities! Think about the company stock! Think about the family name!
Arthur: The Vance family name died the day you bet it on casino tables and blood money. Security! Hold Marcus too!
Two large security officers immediately seized Marcus by his arms, locking him in place next to the altar. Outside, the wail of police sirens grew louder, echoing off the high stone walls of the estate grounds.
Evelyn: You'll regret this, Arthur! If I go down, I'm taking the entire company with me! I have copies of every financial record!
Arthur: Take whatever you want to court, Evelyn. Because starting today, every single dollar in the Vance trust fund is being transferred into a permanent legal trust for Leo and his mother.
Leo: Does this mean Daddy gets justice now, Grandpa?
Arthur: Yes, buddy. Your daddy gets full justice today.
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