"You're not going to destroy my company because of some paperwork."
Victoria turned toward him.
"I didn't destroy anything. I didn't create these transactions. I didn't sign those documents."
"You have no idea what you're talking about."
"Then you should have no problem with an independent investigation."
Richard's face twisted with anger.
"You ungrateful little..."
Thomas moved between them before he could finish.
"That's enough."
Richard looked at the older man.
"Who do you think you are?"
Thomas straightened.
"Someone who has watched you behave disgracefully for the last twenty minutes."
Richard laughed.
"You think wearing a uniform gives you the right to judge me?"
"No. Your actions do that."
Several veterans nodded.
One of them, a retired captain named William Harris, approached from the nearby table.
"Mr. Hayes, I think you should leave."
Richard looked at him.
"And who are you?"
William calmly displayed his identification.
"Captain William Harris, United States Navy, retired."
Another veteran stepped forward.
"Commander James Porter, retired."
Then another.
The atmosphere in the ballroom had completely changed.
Nobody was laughing at Victoria.
Nobody was questioning her presence.
The people Richard had tried to impress were now openly condemning his behavior.
But Victoria was not interested in turning the evening into a public trial.
She looked at Thomas.
"Master Chief, I appreciate your support. But I don't want anyone getting into trouble because of me."
Thomas nodded respectfully.
"Understood, Admiral."
He then turned toward Richard.
"But I will not allow anyone to threaten an officer while I'm standing here."
Daniel closed the folder.
"Victoria, I recommend that we document the assault separately from the financial investigation."
She nodded.
"Yes."
"And we should preserve every original document."
"Agreed."
Daniel looked toward the entrance.
"I have already arranged for the independent trustee to be contacted. He is expected to arrive shortly."
Richard's head snapped around.
"The trustee is coming here?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
"Who authorized that?"
"Your father's instructions."
Richard began pacing.
"This is insane."
Helen followed him.
"Richard, calm down."
He turned toward her.
"Do you understand what's happening?"
Helen looked frightened.
"Of course I do."
"No, you don't. If they freeze the accounts, the company could collapse."
Victoria heard him.
She looked at Daniel.
"Did you hear that?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
Richard realized what he had said.
He immediately stopped speaking.
Victoria slowly turned toward him.
"So the money is still being used?"
Richard looked at her.
"Don't twist my words."
"Your company depends on money from the estate?"
"It's complicated."
"How complicated?"
He rubbed his forehead.
"You're making a mistake."
Victoria held the folder tightly.
"Then tell me the truth."
Richard looked at Helen again.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Finally, Helen stepped closer to Victoria.
"Your brother was trying to protect the family."
Victoria shook her head.
"From what?"
Helen's eyes moved toward the financial documents.
"From losing everything."
Victoria's expression changed.
"What does that mean?"
Helen swallowed.
"Your father had debts."
Daniel immediately interrupted.
"That is not accurate."
Helen turned toward him.
"You weren't part of this family."
"I was responsible for reviewing the estate's financial position."
"Then you know what happened!"
Daniel remained calm.
"I know that the estate was financially stable at the time of Mr. Hayes's death. I also know that substantial funds were transferred afterward."
Richard raised his voice.
"Stop talking!"
Helen flinched.
Victoria looked between them.
There was something else.
Something they had not yet explained.
Her father had left behind an estate that was supposed to be protected.
Richard had used her name to access it.
Her mother knew more than she had admitted.
And now both of them were afraid of what the trustee might discover.
Before Victoria could ask another question, a hotel employee approached Daniel.
"Mr. Cole, the gentleman you requested has arrived."
Daniel nodded.
"Thank you."
He turned toward Victoria.
"He's waiting in the lobby."
Victoria looked at the envelope.
"Who is he?"
"Mr. Samuel Whitmore. He is the independent trustee appointed by your father."
Richard closed his eyes briefly.
Helen looked as if she might collapse.
Victoria had never met Samuel Whitmore.
But she knew that her father's decision to appoint an independent trustee had been deliberate.
He had wanted someone outside the family to protect the estate.
Someone who could not be pressured by Richard.
Someone who would follow the documents rather than family expectations.
Daniel offered to accompany her.
Victoria nodded.
As they began walking toward the lobby, Richard followed.
"Victoria, wait."
She stopped.
He approached slowly.
His voice had changed.
It was no longer loud or aggressive.
It sounded almost desperate.
"Can we talk for a minute?"
Victoria looked at him.
"We've been talking all evening."
"Alone."
"No."
"Please."
She was surprised by the word.
Richard rarely asked her for anything.
He usually demanded.
But now he looked at her with an expression she had never seen before.
Fear.
Helen stepped beside him.
"Victoria, he is your brother. Whatever happened tonight, you can't just abandon him."
Victoria looked at her mother.