Ten minutes later, the heavy front doors swung open. Julian walked into the foyer, trying to look calm, but sweat was visible on his forehead.
Julian: Mark, look, let's talk about this rationally before anyone makes a scene.
Mark: You're a little late for that, Julian. The scene already happened when Clara screamed at my daughter and tried to frame her.
Julian: Framed Lily? What are you talking about?
Eleanor: She put the trust fund papers inside Lily's backpack, Julian! She was going to pretend my six-year-old child lost them so nobody would look for them until the wire transfer cleared!
Julian: That... that's horrible! Clara, how could you do that to a kid?
Clara: Don't play dumb with me, Julian! You told me to hide the papers in her bag if anyone walked in while I was getting the necklace!
Julian: Shut up! She's lying, Mark! She's trying to drag me down with her because she got caught!
Mark: Is that so? Then why does this signature on the transfer form match the signature on your company's bank documents?
I held up the paper, pointing directly to the bottom line.
Julian: Anyone can copy a signature if they see it on a document!
Mark: I didn't say it was my signature she copied, Julian. Look closer. This is your signature, signed under my notary seal.
Julian stared at the page, his eyes opening wide as he realized his mistake.
Julian: Mark... you don't understand the pressure I've been under.
Mark: You tried to steal five million dollars from your own niece!
Julian: It wasn't stealing! I was going to put the money back as soon as my investment in the downtown project paid off next month!
Eleanor: You used our daughter as a scapegoat for your gambling with real estate!
Julian: I was desperate! The bank was going to foreclose on my company! If I lost my firm, the whole family name would be ruined!
Mark: You ruined your own name the second you decided to treat my daughter like collateral.
Lily: Uncle Julian? Why were you being mean to Mommy and Daddy?
Lily peeked out from behind Eleanor's dress, looking at her uncle with sad, confused eyes.
Julian: Lily... sweetie, Uncle Julian was just... making a mistake.
Mark: Don't talk to her. You don't deserve to even say her name.
Julian: Mark, please. We're brothers. We can settle this without going to court. I'll sign over my shares of the family business to you! Just don't call the cops!
Mark: The cops are already here.
Outside, the red and blue lights of two police cruisers flashed through the large front windows of the foyer.
Julian: Mark, no! You can't do this to your own brother!
Mark: You stopped being my brother the moment you brought a criminal into my house to terrorize my child.