Arthur stumbled backward, holding his reddened cheek in total shock as the guests gasped in chorus.
Arthur: You crazy woman! You just slapped me in front of the entire board!
Valeria: You lied to me! You and Richard treated me like a fool while you drained my family inheritance!
Julian: You treated yourself like a fool, Valeria, when you agreed to marry a man just for his bank account.
Valeria turned back toward Julian, her teeth clenched so tightly her jaw was visibly shaking.
Valeria: Shut up! You don't know anything about my marriage!
Julian: I know everything about your marriage because your husband tried to sell me fifty percent of your family's bakery business last night.
Elena stepped forward, her eyes widening in sudden realization.
Elena: Wait... the Vance Bakery on 5th Street? That was my grandfather's shop before he passed away!
Julian: That's right, Elena. Richard Vance took out an illegal loan using that bakery property as collateral three years ago.
Valeria: That bakery belonged to my family for three generations! Richard had no legal right to touch it!
Julian: He had every right because you signed the power of attorney paperwork without reading it on your wedding day.
Valeria sank back against a nearby wooden table, her high heels wobbling as the full weight of her reality hit her.
Valeria: I... I signed it because he said it was for our joint trust fund.
Julian: He used it to pay off his debts. And now, the bakery is part of the bankruptcy liquidation portfolio.
Elena took a step toward Valeria, her posture changing from nervous worker to a fierce, determined young woman.
Elena: You stood there five minutes ago and called me a smelly peasant. You told me I wasn't worthy of standing in this room.
Valeria: Stay away from me, girl!
Elena: But my grandfather worked forty years in that bakery to feed this community. He never once made anyone feel small or cheap.
Julian: Your grandfather was a good man, Elena. And his memory won't be ruined by greedy frauds.
Julian reached into his tuxedo jacket pocket and pulled out a clean white document tied with a red ribbon.
Julian: I bought the debt deed from the bank this morning, Elena. The bakery property now belongs entirely to you and your mother.
Elena covered her face with her hands, letting out a loud sob of relief as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Elena: Oh my God... Mr. Sterling, I can't ever repay you for this!
Julian: You don't need to repay me. Just keep baking the best bread in the city, the way your grandfather did.
Valeria stared at the document in Julian's hand, her face contorting with extreme bitterness.
Valeria: You gave my family's bakery to a servant?! That property is worth millions!
Julian: It was never your property, Valeria. It was stolen from Elena's family through fraud, and today justice was served.
Valeria: You can't do this to me! I am a member of high society! My friends are all in this room!
Julian looked around the grand ballroom. The wealthy guests who had been chatting with Valeria earlier were now backing away from her, turning their shoulders and whispering behind their hands.
Julian: Look around you, Valeria. Your so-called friends won't even look you in the eye.
Valeria: You people are fake! All of you! I helped organize this gala!
Arthur: Valeria, stop making a scene! You're ruining whatever dignity we have left!
Valeria: Dignity?! You stole my life, Arthur! You and Richard ruined me!
Valeria grabbed a glass of red wine from a nearby tray and threw the entire contents straight into Arthur's face.