Lily held onto David's tuxedo lapel, her voice cracking as she spoke into his neck.
Lily: The room under the big stairs... she locked me inside before the party started...
David: Evelyn... did you lock my daughter in the storage closet under the grand staircase?
Evelyn: She was crying and making noise! I couldn't have her throwing a tantrum while the VIP donors were arriving!
David: You locked a four-year-old child in a windowless storage closet?!
Evelyn: It was only for twenty minutes! It was a time-out!
David: She has severe claustrophobia from her hospital stay last year, Evelyn! You knew that!
Evelyn: She needs to learn discipline! You spoil her endlessly because Sarah isn't here to raise her!
David: You are a monster. A sick, cruel monster.
Evelyn: I am the matriarch of the Sterling family! I built this estate!
David: My late wife's grandfather built this estate, Evelyn! You married into it!
Evelyn: And I have managed it honorably for forty years!
David: Managing an estate doesn't give you the right to lock a child in the dark and starve her!
Lily: I found the bread crust in the dark room, Daddy... I was so hungry...
David felt a heavy lump form in his throat as tears welled in his own eyes.
David: You found this bread in the storage closet?
Lily: Yes... it was under the old boxes... I saved it in my pocket...
David looked up at Evelyn, his eyes burning with a cold, terrifying hatred.
David: You left my daughter in a dusty closet with discarded food scraps so you could drink champagne with wealthy donors?
Evelyn: She was fine! Look at her, she's standing right there!
David: She is trembling in terror, Evelyn!
Evelyn: Children get over things quickly! Stop making a scene!
David: I am going to ruin you, Evelyn. I am going to take every single penny, every room of this mansion, and every bit of status you hold in this city.
Evelyn: You can't take anything from me! The board stands behind me!
David: Let's see how much the board stands behind you when they read the audit report.
David reached into his inner tuxedo pocket and pulled out a thick white legal envelope.
Evelyn: What is that?
David: This is the certified bank trail showing where Sarah's thirty million dollars went after her death.
Evelyn: Put those papers away right now!
David: Why, Evelyn? Are you afraid the guests will find out where you got the money to buy your new diamond necklace?
Evelyn instinctively reached her hand up to clutch the glittering diamond choker around her neck.
Evelyn: This necklace was bought with my private savings!
David: Your private savings account was empty two months ago, Evelyn. Check page four of the report.