Marcus: I am calling my father right now! He is going to bring the entire legal team down here!
Bishop Miller: Your father already knows, Marcus. Why do you think he didn't attend this ceremony today?
Marcus stopped tapping on his phone screen, his eyes widening in sudden realization.
Marcus: What... what do you mean? He said he had an urgent business meeting in Chicago!
Bishop Miller: He didn't fly to Chicago. He was subpoenaed by the federal prosecutor this morning regarding the estate fraud.
Marcus: You... you reported us to the government?
Bishop Miller: The church does not protect thieves, Marcus. Not even wealthy ones who donate to our restoration fund.
Marcus: You hypocrite! You took our donations for years without saying a word!
Bishop Miller: Every cent your family gave was placed in an escrow account, awaiting the day Arthur’s true heir was found.
Marcus: You knew? You knew all along that this boy was out there?
Bishop Miller: We searched for Clara Vance for fifteen years. It was only last month that we tracked her to the bakery near the docks.
Leo: Wait... my mom works so hard every day. She comes home with blistered hands. Did you know about us the whole time?
Bishop Miller: We had to verify the DNA samples before we could act, Leo. The results came back yesterday afternoon.
Marcus: DNA samples? How did you get his DNA?
Bishop Miller: A simple hair follicle from the community clinic where Leo gets his free checkups.
Marcus: That is an invasion of privacy! That evidence is completely inadmissible in court!
Mr. Sterling: Actually, Marcus... in probate court, biological relation overrides procedural technicalities regarding estate succession.
Marcus: Shut up, Sterling! You are supposed to be defending me!
Mr. Sterling: I represent the Vance Family Trust, Marcus. I do not represent you personally if you are committing fraud.
Marcus: You coward! You took millions from my father over the last decade!
Mr. Sterling: And I will cooperate fully with the federal prosecutors to ensure I am not charged as an accomplice.
Marcus slammed his hand against the wooden table, sending a stack of parish papers flying across the floor.
Marcus: This is a conspiracy! You all planned this to humiliate me in front of the entire city!
Bishop Miller: You humiliated yourself the moment you agreed to sign papers stealing a child's rightful inheritance.
Leo: Mister Marcus... you can have the shiny crown if you want. I just don't want my mom to cry at night anymore.
Marcus looked down at the boy, his face contorted in a mix of rage and shame.
Marcus: Don't play the saint with me, kid. You're just a greedy little brat like the rest of them.
Bishop Miller: That is enough! Guards, escort Marcus out of the cathedral grounds immediately!
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