Chapter 5 - The Legal Nightmare
Three weeks passed.
I remained safely tucked away in the luxury VIP maternity suite, surrounded by flowers, specialized care, and total peace.
My lawyers, funded by the billions I had legally secured, were working around the clock.
Julian, meanwhile, was living in a two-star motel in Queens.
He had tried to hire a high-powered attorney to sue me for fraud.
But high-powered attorneys require high-powered retainers.
Without a dime to his name, he was forced to settle for a public defender who mostly handled traffic violations.
The deposition took place in a neutral conference room downtown.
I arrived in a wheelchair, pushed by a private nurse, wearing a tailored maternity dress.
Julian sat across the massive oak table, looking haggard, unshaven, and completely desperate.
"Clara, please," he whispered as I entered the room.
I didn't even look at him.
My lead attorney, a ruthless woman named Sarah Hayes, slammed a thick binder onto the table.
"Let's begin," Sarah said sharply.
Julian's discount lawyer cleared his throat nervously.
"My client alleges that Mrs. Vance committed corporate espionage and theft of intellectual property," he mumbled.
Sarah smiled, a predatory gleam in her eyes.
"We have provided the defense with over four thousand pages of documentation proving otherwise," Sarah countered.
She slid a document across the table.
"Here is the original corporate charter, signed by Mr. Vance five years ago."
"If you read clause 4B, you will see he knowingly transferred all intellectual property rights to my client in exchange for the CEO title."
Julian stared at the paper, his eyes wide.
"I... I didn't read it," he stammered.
"I just signed where she told me to."
"Ignorance of a contract does not invalidate it, Mr. Vance," Sarah replied coldly.
"Furthermore, we have filed a countersuit for physical abuse, emotional distress, and attempted fetal manslaughter."
Julian's lawyer visibly paled.
"Attempted what?" the lawyer squeaked.
Sarah pulled out a small USB drive and placed it on the table.
"This contains security footage from the Vance loft on the night of July 28th."
"It clearly shows Mr. Vance dragging his pregnant wife by her wrists and physically kicking her in the ribs."
Julian slumped back in his chair, all the fight leaving his body.
He knew he was completely destroyed.
"We are offering a settlement," Sarah announced.
"Mr. Vance will sign a full NDA, agree to a clean divorce, and terminate all parental rights."
"In exchange, we will not hand this footage over to the District Attorney."
Julian looked at me, tears welling in his pathetic eyes.
"Clara... he's my son," he choked out.
May you like
I finally met his gaze, my eyes devoid of any mercy.
"Sign the papers, Julian."
