The security guards stopped in their tracks, looking between Julian and Chloe.
Julian walked over to Elena and stood directly by her side in support.
Julian: Elena, do you still have the original financial files from five years ago?
Elena: I kept every single document stored safely in a digital drive.
Chloe: You're lying! My father destroyed every trace of those old records!
The moment those words left Chloe's mouth, the entire room gasped in surprise.
Chloe covered her mouth immediately, realizing she had just admitted to a crime.
She had confirmed that her father deliberately destroyed important evidence years ago.
Elena pulled a small metal flash drive from her pocket and held it up.
Elena: Your father tried to destroy them, but I made duplicate copies first.
Julian reached into his tuxedo coat and pulled out his personal mobile phone.
Julian: I am calling my family lawyer and the federal authorities right now.
Chloe: Julian, please! We are getting married next month!
Julian: The wedding is canceled. It was over the moment you hit her.
Chloe's face drained of all color as guests began recording everything on phones.
Her father, who had been sitting in a private lounge upstairs, hurried down.
Mr. Sterling ran into the ballroom, looking flustered and heavy in his suit.
Mr. Sterling: What is going on down here? Why is the music stopped?
Julian: Your daughter just confessed to your cover-up in front of everyone.
Mr. Sterling stopped dead in his tracks, staring directly at Elena's cold face.
Elena: Hello, Mr. Sterling. It has been a long time since we spoke.