Julian: I know exactly what was in the draft, Clara. Dad wanted to give you sixty percent of the company shares.
Clara: And you stole it because you couldn't stand the thought of working for me!
Julian: I earned my position in the boardroom! You were away at college spending his money!
Evelyn: She was getting an education, Julian! Something you bought your way through with donations!
Victoria: Silence, Evelyn! You are a guest who has overstayed her welcome in my home.
Evelyn pulled herself up, wiping a small line of blood from her lip where Victoria's ring had cut her skin. She stood straight, refusing to show weakness in front of the people who had stolen her family's heritage.
Evelyn: This mansion was bought with my father's money. You have no legal right to lock those doors.
Victoria: The title deed is under my name. Check the public records if you don't believe me.
Evelyn: Because you forced Arthur to sign a fraudulent land transfer while he was too sick to read the papers!
Julian: Prove that in a courtroom. Oh wait, your lawyer dropped you last week because you couldn't pay his retainer fee.
Clara: I have money saved in my personal account.
Julian: You have nothing, Clara. Every account associated with your name was frozen this morning by our estate managers.
Clara: You can't do that! That was my personal money!
Victoria: It was family money, derived from our corporate dividends. Until you learn your place, you won't see a single dollar.
Clara felt a wave of despair wash over her, but the sight of her mother standing bruised and unyielding gave her courage. She stepped closer to Julian, looking him dead in the eye.
Clara: You think money gives you absolute power, don't you?
Julian: In this world, it gives us options you don't have.
Clara: What about the forensic accountant mom hired three months ago?
Victoria froze. Her hand, which had been adjusting her lace sleeve, dropped to her side.
Victoria: What accountant?
Evelyn: Did you really think I was sitting idly in my small apartment doing nothing all these months?
Victoria: You don't have the funds for a private financial audit!
Evelyn: I sold my grandmother's diamond ring to hire the best financial investigator in the state. He's been tracking your offshore shell accounts for six weeks.
Julian: Mother... is this true?
Victoria: She's bluffing, Julian! Don't let her play mind games with you!
Evelyn: Ask her about the three million dollars transferred to a Cayman account the night Arthur died. Ask her why the medical examiner's report was delayed by two weeks.
Julian turned his gaze toward his mother, a sliver of doubt finally breaking through his arrogant posture. The room grew stiflingly quiet as the ticking of the clock echoed down the hall.
Julian: Mother... what three million dollars?
Victoria: It was for corporate restructuring! I don't have to explain myself to either of you!
Clara: You stole from dad's life insurance before he was even buried!
Victoria: Shut your mouth, you ungrateful little girl!