Liam: What happens to the company now? The bank will foreclose on the estate by tomorrow morning!
Clara: The bank won't foreclose on anything, Liam. Because as of nine o'clock this morning, I own fifty-one percent of Vance Global.
Liam: What?! How do you have fifty-one percent?!
Clara: When Victoria paid off that nurse twenty-two years ago, she used my birth father's private trust as collateral. Under state law, any assets bought with stolen trust funds revert directly to the primary victim.
A senior board member in a black tuxedo stepped forward from the crowd, clearing his throat nervously.
Board Member 1: Miss Sterling... if what you are saying is true, then the entire executive board needs to hold an emergency vote right now.
Clara: There is no need for a vote, Director Miller. The state supreme court signed the emergency ownership transfer three hours ago.
Clara reached into her handbag and pulled out a certified legal court order stamped with an official gold seal, holding it up for the room to see.
Clara: Effective immediately, Vance Global Enterprises is being dissolved and renamed Sterling Holdings.
Board Member 2: What about our stock options?! What about our investments in the new downtown real estate project?!
Clara: Every legitimate investor will be fully compensated. But every director who signed off on Victoria's illegal off-shore transfers will be facing federal auditors by noon today.
The board members began whispering frantically, several of them turning pale and rushing toward the exit doors to call their corporate lawyers.
Liam: And what about me, Clara? Where do I go?
Clara: You can keep your personal car and the apartment in Chicago, Liam. You were a victim of her greed, too. But you need to learn how to stand on your own two feet without a trust fund.
Liam: I don't care about the trust fund, Clara... I just... I feel like my whole identity was a lie.
Clara: Then go build a real one.
Clara turned her head toward her head attorney, Marcus, who was standing near the entrance holding a leather briefcase.
Clara: Marcus, schedule the press conference for three o'clock at the corporate headquarters.
Marcus: Everything is already set up, Miss Sterling. The reporters are already waiting outside the courthouse.
Clara: Good. Let's make sure the public knows that the Vance dynasty is officially over.