Elena reached into her small designer purse and pulled out a pale grey document folder tied with black ribbon.
Julian: What is that, Elena?
Elena: Consider it my wedding gift to the Sterling family foundation.
She tossed the folder into the center of the table, knocking over a crystal water goblet.
Victoria: Pick that up this instant! How dare you make a scene in this club?
Elena: Open it, Victoria. Or would you prefer your corporate attorney read it over breakfast?
Julian reached over nervously, untying the silk string and pulling out the first sheet.
Julian: Mother... what is this offshore account in the Caymans?
Victoria: Give me those papers right now, Julian!
Julian: It has your signature on it. And Uncle Thomas’s signature.
Elena: It’s an undeclared transfer from the shipping trust. Twenty-two million moved right before the federal tax deadline.
Victoria snatched the pages from Julian’s trembling hands, her knuckles whitening instantly.
Victoria: Where did you get these forged documents?
Elena: Nothing in there is forged. Your late husband kept meticulous private records before he passed away.
Victoria: You had no right to go through Arthur’s private safe at the lake house!
Elena: Arthur gave me the combination two weeks before he died in hospice care.
Julian: Dad did what? Dad barely spoke to anyone during those last weeks!
Elena: Because you and your mother were too busy fighting over his will in the hospital corridor.
Julian shrank back into his leather armchair, looking like a chastised schoolboy.
Elena: Arthur knew exactly what you two were planning to do with the family estate.
Victoria: Arthur was senile! Any court will throw out his testimony or side notes!
Elena: He wasn’t senile when he notarized the addendum with his chief legal counsel.
Victoria: What addendum? The probate court finalized the estate six months ago!
Elena: Not the real estate trust, Victoria. The true ownership of this very club, and the manor you sleep in.
Elena leaned over the table, meeting Victoria’s furious gaze without blinking once.
Elena: Your late husband left a condition on Julian’s trust fund. Did he never tell you?
Julian: What condition? Mom, what is she talking about?
Victoria: Shut up, Julian! Don't let her rattle you with bluffing!
Elena: If Julian enters into any marriage contract that strips basic human rights from his spouse, the entire trust liquidates to the children's hospital fund.
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