Chapter 7 - The Deposition
Two weeks later.
The deposition room at the Federal Courthouse was lit by harsh fluorescent lights, casting stark shadows across the long wooden table.
Julian sat in an orange jumpsuit, his hands loosely cuffed at his wrists, looking haggard, unshaven, and exhausted. His high-priced defense attorney sat beside him, nervously sorting through legal briefs.
Across the table sat Elena, Marcus, and Special Prosecutor Vance.
“Mr. Vance,” Prosecutor Vance began, turning on the digital recording device on the table. “We are here to record your formal response to the forty-two counts of federal wire fraud and illegal conversion of marital assets.”
Julian looked across the table at his wife. The arrogance that had characterized him for twelve years was entirely gone, replaced by a desperate, pleading hollow look in his eyes.
“Elena...” Julian rasped, his voice barely above a whisper. “Please. Don't do this to our family name. Think about what this does to Toby and Leo when they apply for university.”
Elena didn't blink. “Leo built the system that caught you, Julian. And Toby knows that his father tried to erase his mother’s existence. They are prouder of our name today than they ever were when you ran the corporation.”
Julian’s attorney leaned over, whispering frantically in his client’s ear: “Do not engage emotionally, Julian. Stick to the plea framework.”
Julian ignored his lawyer, leaning over his cuffed hands toward Elena. “Chloe forced my hand! She threatened to leak the offshore tax structures to the IRS if I didn't proceed with the divorce and asset transfer! I was trying to protect the core holding company!”
In the observation room behind the two-way mirror, Chloe sat with her own legal counsel, listening through the intercom speaker.
Upon hearing Julian throw her under the bus, Chloe immediately stood up, slammed her hand against the glass mirror, and screamed through the microphone line:
“He’s lying! He drafted the offshore plan in 2021! I have the signed emails!”
The room burst into chaos as attorneys from both sides shouted over one another, while Julian closed his eyes, dropping his forehead onto the cold wooden table.
May you like
Elena stood up, smoothed the lapels of her dark coat, and looked down at the man she had spent twelve years loving.
“You built your entire life on the assumption that women and children are passive observers in your story, Julian,” Elena said quietly. “You were wrong.”
