Inside the grand study, mahogany shelves stretched up to the ceiling, filled with legal volumes and family ledgers. Two corporate lawyers in sharp suits sat at the heavy conference table, documents spread out before them.
Attorney Carter: "Mrs. Sterling, we have reviewed the financial records from the Vance Corporation."
Chloe: "What did you find, Mr. Carter?"
Attorney Carter: "It’s far worse than we anticipated. Victoria’s father, Richard Vance, has been draining your late father’s trust fund for over five years."
Julian: "How much did he take?"
Attorney Carter: "Over twelve million dollars. He used the funds to cover his failed real estate ventures in Houston and to purchase Victoria’s luxury cars and wardrobe."
Chloe: "And my father's original will? Did you find the authentic copy?"
Attorney Carter: "Yes. The document Victoria tried to present last week was a complete forgery. The genuine will clearly states that 100% of the estate, including the Dallas mansion and the holding company, belongs exclusively to you."
Julian: "Which means Richard Vance had no legal authority to offer any business partnership or property as collateral."
Attorney Carter: "Exactly. The bank has already issued foreclosure notices on all Vance family properties. By tomorrow morning, their accounts will be completely frozen."
Suddenly, the heavy double doors of the study burst open. An older man with grey hair and a wrinkled face rushed in, panting for breath.
Richard Vance: "Julian! Chloe! You have to stop this right now!"
Julian: "Mr. Vance. You're trespassing on private property."
Richard Vance: "They just arrested my daughter! They took her away in handcuffs! What did you do to her?!"
Chloe: "She slapped me across the face in my own foyer, Mr. Vance. And she put my baby in danger."
Richard Vance: "She's just a young girl! She made a mistake! You can't ruin her life over a minor disagreement!"
Julian: "She is twenty-six years old, Richard. And hitting my wife is not a 'minor disagreement'."
Richard Vance: "Chloe, please... your father was my friend. We were partners!"
Chloe: "My father trusted you, and you stole twelve million dollars from his daughter while she was grieving."
Richard’s face drained of color as he looked at the stacks of financial documents on the table.
Richard Vance: "You... you found the ledgers?"
Chloe: "Every single transaction. Every forged signature. Every offshore account."
Attorney Carter: "Mr. Vance, federal agents are currently at your corporate offices executing a search warrant. I suggest you retain a defense lawyer immediately."
Richard Vance: "Chloe... please. Have mercy. We'll give back what's left. Just don't press criminal charges!"
Chloe: "Mercy? Did your daughter show mercy to me when I was holding my crying child on the floor?"
Richard stood frozen, realization washing over him as two security guards entered the study from the hallway.
Julian: "Escort Mr. Vance off the premises. If he steps foot on this property again, have him arrested for trespassing."
Richard Vance: "You'll regret this! Both of you!"
Julian: "The only regret I have is not doing this sooner."
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