The room went completely silent. Evelyn stared at her son with wide, terrified eyes, her mouth hanging open.
Evelyn: Wife? What are you talking about? You aren't married!
Liam: We've been married for over a year, Mom.
Liam reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out an official document with a gold legal seal, and handed it directly to Mr. Davis.
Mr. Davis: This is a certified marriage certificate... registered in the state of New York thirteen months ago.
Evelyn: No! That's impossible! You would have told me!
Liam: We didn't tell you because we knew you would try to sabotage our lives, just like you tried to sabotage Clara's pregnancy.
Clara: I kept my ring in my pocket every day while I was working here, Mrs. Vance. I didn't wear it on my finger because I didn't want you to ruin Liam's business deals before he finished the merger.
Evelyn: You... you lied to me! You acted like a servant in my house!
Clara: I endured your cruelty for a whole year because Liam asked me to be patient while he gathered evidence against you.
Evelyn: Evidence for what?! I did nothing wrong!
Mr. Davis: Evelyn, if this marriage certificate is valid, then Clara is the legal co-owner of every asset under the Vance trust fund.
Evelyn: Mr. Davis, you are my lawyer! Fix this! Tell them they can't do this to me!
Mr. Davis: I am the family lawyer, Evelyn. My duty is to the primary trust holder, which is currently Liam and his legal spouse.
Evelyn: You traitor! All of you are against me!
Liam: You turned everyone against yourself, Mom. You let your pride and vanity destroy your relationship with your only son.
Evelyn: I did everything for you, Liam! I raised you to be a successful businessman!
Liam: You raised me to care about money and status. But Clara taught me how to love and care for a real family.
Clara: We gave you so many chances to accept Sophia, Mrs. Vance. We invited you to her first birthday party, but you threw the invitation in the trash.
Evelyn: Because a child born out of wedlock is a disgrace!
Liam: She was never born out of wedlock! We were married three months before she was born!
Evelyn stumbled back, sinking into a leather armchair in the corner of the foyer, her face covered in cold sweat.
Evelyn: I... I didn't know...
Liam: You didn't know because you never cared to ask. You only cared about keeping Clara in an apron so you could feel superior.
Mr. Davis: Liam, how would you like to proceed with the property deed and the trust fund audit?
Liam: I want my mother's power of attorney revoked immediately, Mr. Davis. And I want an eviction notice served for her quarters in the east wing.
Evelyn: Eviction notice?! You are kicking me out of my home?!
Liam: This is not your home anymore, Evelyn. It belongs to Clara and Sophia.