Julian: What do you mean, corporate account? That was paid through my personal trust!
Clara: Your trust fund was liquidated three weeks ago to cover your illegal stock margin calls.
Julian: How... how do you know about that?
Clara: Because I bought out the debt from your lender yesterday morning.
Julian stared at Clara in absolute horror, his breathing becoming shallow as the magnitude of his financial trap became clear. He reached out to grab her arm, but Clara's personal bodyguard stepped forward immediately, blocking his path with a stern glare.
Guard: Step back, sir. Keep your distance.
Julian: This is my property! Get this thug out of my house!
Clara: Correction: this is my grandfather's estate. You are currently trespassing.
Chloë: Julian! Is it true? Are you completely broke?
Julian: Quiet, Chloë! Not now!
Chloë: Answer me! My father invested two million dollars into your startup last week because you said you were marrying into money!
Clara: Oh, so your father was part of the scam too? That makes things much simpler for my legal team.
Several high-net-worth guests in the audience began whispering rapidly, pulling out phones to call their financial advisors. Julian's board members were already walking out the double glass doors, refusing to be associated with the unfolding scandal.
Board Member: We are calling an emergency board meeting for midnight, Julian. Don't bother coming to the office tomorrow.
Julian: Arthur, wait! It's personal, it has nothing to do with corporate governance!
Board Member: Corporate governance? You used company assets to fund a bigamous ceremony!
Clara: And he forged my signature on the life insurance rider last month as well.
Julian gasped, his eyes wide with fear as Clara pulled out another small sheet of paper from her bag. It was an official policy update from a major insurance agency, showing a multi-million-dollar payout policy with Julian listed as the sole beneficiary in case of Clara's accidental death.
Julian: That... that was just standard executive security coverage!
Clara: Signed while I was sedated in the hospital after my car accident in July?
Chloë: Car accident? Julian, what did you do?!
Julian: I didn't do anything! It was a rain slick road!
Clara: The mechanic found cut brake lines, Julian. The police report was reopened two days ago.
A collective shockwave went through the room. Guests moved further back from Julian as if he were dangerous. The atmosphere in the grand marble hall went completely cold as the truth turned from simple infidelity to potential attempted murder.
Julian: You can't prove that! It was an old car!
Clara: The garage security cameras proved who entered the building that night.
Julian: You're setting me up!
Clara: No, Julian. You set yourself up when you assumed I was too weak to fight back.
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