Part 2: The room fell silent when his sobbing daughter revealed what the women had done, but their smug smiles vanished into pure terror the second the furious father grabbed the wooden bat.

David stepped forward. Nobody dared move. Even the two burly estate guards who finally appeared at the end of the corridor took one look at David’s bloodshot eyes, the heavy bat dangling at his side, and the righteous fury radiating off him, and decided to keep their hands resting firmly at their belts.

David picked up Victoria’s crocodile-skin clutch, unzipped it, and dumped its contents onto the marble floor.

Lipstick rolled away. Gold credit cards scattered. And there, sitting amidst the luxury cosmetics, was Clara’s battered silver locket, its delicate chain snapped in two.

David picked up the locket with trembling fingers. He pressed the cold metal to his lips, then gently placed it into Lily’s tiny palm. Lily squeezed it tightly against her heart, her sobbing finally subsiding into quiet, rhythmic hiccups.

"You're finished in this house, David," Eleanor hissed, her voice vibrating with venom now that she realized physical harm wasn't imminent. "You take that little bastard and you leave. You will never see a dime of Clara’s estate. You will never set foot in any property owned by the Hawthorne trust. I will spend every last penny I have to make sure you rot in prison for property damage and assault!"

David looked at Eleanor, not with anger, but with profound pity.

"Clara never took a single cent from your dirty trust fund, Eleanor," David said, his voice echoing with absolute conviction. "She walked away from you ten years ago because you measure human worth in dollar signs and cruel games. We lived in a tiny two-bedroom apartment, but it was filled with love. Something you will never experience in this mausoleum."

"Get out!" Eleanor screamed, losing all composure, her face turning purple. "Security! Throw him out into the rain!"

"I wouldn't advise that, Eleanor," Marcus interrupted smoothly, stepping between David and the guards. "In fact, if I were you, I would consult a criminal defense attorney immediately. Because what Victoria did tonight isn't just family drama. It’s unlawful imprisonment of a minor, grand larceny, and child abuse. And as the executor of Clara's private accounts, I have news that might make your chest tighten even further."

Eleanor’s eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about? Clara died penniless!"

"Clara died owning forty percent of the Hawthorne Industrial shares that her grandfather left her in a private living trust," Marcus replied with a cold smile. "Shares that she explicitly transferred to her sole heir, Lily Vance. With David as the exclusive legal guardian."

The room went dead silent. Victoria stared in horror. Eleanor grabbed the piano to keep herself from fainting.