Victoria: What are you talking about?! We were married in Fiji eighteen months ago! We have a wedding certificate!
Arthur: A certificate that was never registered with the county clerk, because you were already legally married to a man named Marcus Reed in Nevada.
Victoria: That's... that's a lie! Marcus and I were divorced four years ago!
Arthur: The divorce papers were never finalized, Victoria. You forged his signature, but the court threw out the filing in 2022. You committed bigamy when you stood at the altar with Mr. Vance.
Victoria stumbled backward, her hand catching the edge of the dining table to steady herself. The smug smile on her face vanished, replaced by sheer panic.
Richard: I hired Arthur three weeks ago, Victoria. I noticed strange withdrawals from the children's trust account—over two hundred thousand dollars transferred to a shell corporation in Delaware.
Victoria: Richard, darling, listen to me! I can explain that! It was an investment! For the children's future!
Richard: Don't call me darling! You stole from my motherless children!
Leo: Dad... is she going to go away now?
Richard: Yes, Leo. She is leaving right now and she is never, ever coming back to this house.
Victoria: You can't kick me out! I have rights! The police will protect me!
Arthur: Actually, Mrs. Reed—or should I say Victoria—the police are already waiting outside in the driveway. Along with representatives from the district attorney's office.
Victoria: For what?! I didn't do anything wrong!
Arthur: Grand larceny, wire fraud, identity theft, and bigamy. Not to mention child endangerment, which we now have recorded on the security cameras Mr. Vance installed yesterday afternoon.
Victoria looked up at the corner of the dining room ceiling and spotted a small black lens blinking with a tiny red light. Her throat went dry.
Victoria: You... you recorded me?
Richard: Every single second. I saw how you talked to Leo when you thought I was out of town. I saw you starve my baby boy and make him beg for bread on his knees.
Victoria: Richard, please! I was stressed! I was overwhelmed with the housework and taking care of two boys that aren't mine!
Richard: Housework? We have a full-time housekeeper and a private chef! You didn't do a single chore in this house!
Victoria: I loved you! I gave you everything!
Richard: You loved my money! You targeted me six months after Sarah died because you knew I was vulnerable and grieving!
Arthur: Mr. Vance, the officers are ready to enter. Should I call them in?
Richard: Bring them in, Arthur. Let them take her away in front of everyone.
Victoria: No! Wait! Richard, please! Think of the publicity! Think of what this will do to your company's stock price if the newspapers find out!
Richard: I don't give a damn about the stock price, Victoria. My family's safety is the only thing that matters to me.
Two uniformed police officers walked into the dining room, their heavy boots clicking on the floor. One of them pulled out a pair of steel handcuffs, the cold metal glinting under the chandelier.
Officer Miller: Victoria Reed, you are under arrest for grand fraud and child neglect. You have the right to remain silent.
Victoria: Get your hands off me! Do you know who I am?! Richard, tell them to stop!
Richard: I have nothing more to say to you.





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