The silence in the grand ballroom was deafening. Thousands of dollars' worth of champagne glasses remained suspended in mid-air as eyes shifted from the slick, dark-suited lawyer to the frail old man holding a single crushed white rose.

The sound of heavy black boots echoing against the pristine marble was like a death knell for Julian Vance. The high-society guests parted instantly, creating a wide aisle for the federal agents.

"Julian Vance?" the lead agent asked, pulling a silver pair of handcuffs from his belt. "You are under arrest for federal wire fraud, tax evasion, and the illegal transfer of assets belonging to the Sterling Foundation."

"No... no! You have the wrong man!" Julian yelled, struggling as the agent pulled his arms behind his back. The metal clicked shut with a brutal finality. "Thomas set me up! He was just a gardener! He framed me!"

Thomas stood motionless, watching the young man he had raised like a nephew ruin himself. There was no joy in Thomas's eyes—only a deep, ancient sadness.

"I didn't frame you, Julian," Thomas said softly, stepping closer as the agents held Julian in place. "I gave you the keys to the kingdom, and you used them to lock yourself in a cage of greed. You forged my signature on the shell company documents in the Cayman Islands. Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"

"You played me!" Julian spat, saliva flying from his mouth. "You dressed like a beggar! You lived in the tool shed! You let me kick you, you sick bastard!"

"I lived in the tool shed because it was built by my grandfather," Thomas replied, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "I worked the soil because it keeps me grounded. You, Julian, were born in the clouds, and you thought you were a god. But today, you hit the earth."

Chloe was already attempting to sneak out through the rear exit, holding the heavy train of her wedding dress above her ankles. But Harrison stepped into her path, flanked by a female officer.

"Not so fast, Miss Montgomery," Harrison said smoothly. "The Montgomery Corporation was a co-conspirator in the fraudulent transfer of the Vance stock. Your father is currently being questioned at the district attorney's office."

Chloe dropped her dress. Her face crumbled into tears. "I didn't know anything! I just wanted to marry rich!"

"Ignorance is not a defense under federal law," the female officer said, slapping a pair of cuffs onto Chloe’s manicured wrists.

As the agents dragged Julian and Chloe toward the grand entrance, Julian turned his head back, his eyes wild with hatred.

"This isn't over, Thomas!" Julian screamed, his voice echoing out into the courtyard where dozens of paparazzi cameras were already flashing wildly. "You hear me?! I’ll tear down everything you built! I’ll kill you!"

Thomas didn't answer. He simply watched as the heavy wooden doors closed behind them, shutting out the chaos of the outside world.