Julian: You can't fire my father! He has a ten-year executive contract with the board!
Arthur: Read section fourteen of his contract, Julian. Any family misconduct on corporate property voided his severance package instantly.
Julian took a frantic step forward, his voice cracking with panic.
Julian: Please, Mr. Vance! My father had nothing to do with this! It was my fault!
Arthur: You raised your voice under his roof, using his allowance to buy expensive clothes while stepping on honest workers.
Julian: I'll apologize! I'll get down on my knees right now and apologize to your daughter!
Julian dropped to his knees on the marble floor, his hands clasped together as he looked up at Lily.
Julian: Lily, please! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean any of those awful things I said!
Lily: You only care because my dad has power, Julian.
Julian: No, I swear! I was arrogant! I was drunk!
Lily: Five minutes ago, you called me golden trash. You laughed while I was bleeding on the stairs.
Clara scrambled off the sofa, sliding down to her knees right beside Julian, tears ruining her heavy makeup.
Clara: Lily, please! My family's charity foundation relies entirely on your father's corporate grants! If he cuts us off, my mother loses her board seat!
Lily: Maybe your mother should teach you how to treat people before giving you champagne.
Arthur: Thomas, call the estate manager. Tell him to revoke all guest passes for these two immediately.
Guard 1: Right away, Mr. Vance.
Julian: Mr. Vance, please don't kick us out in the rain! My car is parked in the lower garage!
Arthur: That garage is corporate property. Walk to the main gate.
Clara: It's freezing outside! It's pouring rain!
Arthur: My daughter was walking down those steps in bare feet while you laughed at her. You can walk to the gate in the rain.
Guard 1 and Guard 2 stepped forward, placing their heavy hands on Julian and Clara's shoulders, forcing them up from the floor.
Guard 2: Move along. You heard the owner.
Julian: You're making a mistake! My father will sue you!
Arthur: Tell Marcus to bring his legal team to my boardroom at dawn. I'll be waiting with the eviction notice for his penthouse too.
Julian screamed in frustration as the guards escorted them down the wide marble staircase, their wet shoes slipping against the steps they had boasted about owning.
Lily watched them go, her heart pounding in her chest as the grand foyer finally grew quiet.
Arthur turned to his daughter, his furious posture melting away into soft, fatherly concern.
Arthur: Let me look at that knee, Lily.
He pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket, kneeling down in front of her on the cold marble floor.
Lily: Dad... why didn't you ever tell me who you really were?
Arthur: Because I wanted you to grow up with a soft heart, Lily. But I never, ever wanted anyone to make you feel small.