Lily: I thought we were just a regular family, Dad. We live in a small three-bedroom house near the park.
Arthur: That house belonged to your grandmother. It has more love in it than this empty, cold palace ever will.
Arthur gently wiped the smear of dirt and blood from Lily's knee, wrapping his handkerchief carefully around the scrape.
Lily: What happens to Marcus Reed now? Is he really going to lose his job?
Arthur: Marcus has been embezzling maintenance funds for two years to buy his son those custom sports cars, Lily. I already had the forensic accountants checking his files.
Lily: So tonight was just the final straw?
Arthur: Tonight was the moment he proved his whole family is corrupt from the root down.
Arthur stood up, offering his strong, calloused hand to his daughter.
Arthur: Come on. Let's get you out of this silly dress and into your warm coat.
Lily: Can we stop for hot chocolate on the way home?
Arthur: We can buy the whole coffee shop if you want, sweetie.
Lily smiled through her drying tears, shaking her head as she took her father's arm.
Lily: Just two cups from the drive-thru is fine, Dad. I still prefer plain hot chocolate.
Arthur: That's my girl.
They walked down the grand marble stairs together, leaving the dark, empty balcony behind them.
Outside the tall glass front doors, Julian and Clara were standing near the iron gate, soaked through their black formal wear, shivering under the heavy downpour as they waited for a taxi that wouldn't arrive.
Julian looked through the glass, seeing Arthur holding the door open for Lily as they stepped into a clean, simple black SUV.
Clara: They're leaving, Julian! What are we going to do?!
Julian: I... I don't know, Clara! My credit cards were just declined on my phone!
Clara: What?! How could they freeze your cards already?!
Julian: Because the accounts were under my father's corporate trust! Arthur Vance closed them all!
Clara collapsed against the iron bars of the gate, weeping bitterly into the icy rain as the red taillights of Arthur's vehicle faded down the long driveway.
Inside the warm car, Lily turned on the heater, resting her head against the headrest as her father navigated through the dark city streets.
Lily: Dad?
Arthur: Yes, Lily?
Lily: Am I really going to have to run Vance Global Capital one day?
Arthur: Only if you want to, sweetie. You can be a teacher, a doctor, or an artist. The money is just there to make sure nobody ever slaps you down again.
Lily: I think I want to finish my college degree first.
Arthur: That's the smartest thing you've said all night.