Oliver: What is this? Who are these people?
Oliver stopped dead in his tracks, his arrogant smile disappearing completely as his eyes scanned the room.
Chloe: Meet my father and his legal team.
Chloe walked in right behind him, her voice surprisingly steady despite the fresh tears drying on her bruised face. Sitting beside her was a tall, silver-haired man in a dark navy suit whose cold glare made Oliver's blood run cold.
Marcus: Sit down, Oliver.
Oliver: Your father? You told me your father was a high school teacher in Ohio who died broke!
Marcus: I let you believe whatever made you feel powerful, son. My name is Marcus Vance, founder of Vance Financial Group.
Oliver: Vance Financial? That's... that's the firm funding my company's commercial real estate expansion.
Marcus: Not anymore it isn't.
Oliver backed up a step, looking desperately toward the hallway where his mother was just entering the room with a frown.
Eleanor: Oliver, why are these strangers sitting in our private residence?
Marcus: I am the man who owns the mortgage on this house, Mrs. Sterling, as well as the commercial loans keeping your son out of bankruptcy court.
Eleanor: That's absurd! My son is a respected partner at his firm!
Lawyer Hayes: Your son is currently under federal investigation for wire fraud, embezzlement, and spousal abuse, Mrs. Sterling.
Oliver: Fraud?! That's a lie! Chloe, tell them to leave right now!
Chloe: I'm not telling them anything, Oliver. I called them here.
Chloe stepped past Oliver and took her seat at the table beside her father. She pulled a small digital recording device from her pocket and set it squarely on the polished wood.
Oliver: You've been recording me?
Chloe: Every slap. Every threat. Every time your mother reminded you not to leave visible marks on my face.
Eleanor: You treacherous little snake! We took you in when you had nothing!
Marcus: She had a fifty-million-dollar trust fund, Eleanor. A trust fund I locked away until she turned thirty to ensure she married a man who loved her for who she was, not her inheritance.
Oliver: Chloe... sweetheart... you know I love you. I was just stressed about work today.
Chloe: Don't call me sweetheart. My name is Dr. Chloe Vance, and I am leaving you today.
A uniformed police officer stepped out from the shadow of the archway behind Oliver, pulling a pair of steel handcuffs from his belt with a sharp metallic clink.
Police Officer: Oliver Sterling, you are under arrest for domestic battery and felony assault.
Oliver: Get your hands off me! Do you know who my lawyers are?!
Lawyer Hayes: Your lawyers were dismissed by your firm fifteen minutes ago, Oliver. The board terminated your partnership after reviewing the forensic audit.
Lawyer Hayes: We found your hidden assets in the Cayman accounts, Oliver... five years of abuse ends today.
Oliver: Mother! Do something! Call the mayor!
Eleanor: Officer, this is a private family matter! You have no right to enter my home!
Police Officer: Ma'am, if you interfere with a felony arrest, I will handcuff you next.
Oliver's arms were pulled roughly behind his back, and the cuffs clicked tight around his wrists. He stared at Chloe in utter shock, his face turning pale as he realized the life he knew was crumbling into dust.