Luke took the microphone back into his hand. “I’ll also inform you that Mr. Christopher Albright’s supplementary credit cards were officially canceled at 7:30 this evening.

His personal bank accounts are frozen by court order while the misappropriation of assets is investigated. According to the signed prenuptial agreement, total control of the Grand Horizon Group passes immediately to my mother.”

Christopher took a desperate step toward him. “I’m your father, Luke.”

Luke looked at him without any visible hatred, which made it far worse. “I’m your son. But I bear the surname Mendoza.”

Brenda, who moments earlier had smiled as if she owned the entire world, began to remove my grandmother’s gold bracelet with trembling hands. I didn’t ask her to.

But the crushing pressure of everyone’s stares forced her to. She left the bracelet on the stage floor.