Chapter 7 - The Mother's Downfall
Mark was neutralized, but Brenda still needed to answer for her crimes.
She had been the active accomplice, funneling my money and covering up his affair.
My attorney scheduled a mandatory mediation session at her law firm, compelling them to attend or risk default judgments.
Mark and Brenda walked into the conference room looking like defeated ghosts.
Brenda's designer clothes looked slightly wrinkled, and her usual arrogant smirk was completely gone.
"This is completely illegal! You can't just steal my son's house!" Brenda hissed as soon as she sat down.
Diane, my attorney, smiled a terrifying, predatory smile.
"The house belongs solely to Sarah. However, we aren't here to discuss the house," Diane said.
Diane pulled out a stack of banking records and pushed them across the mahogany table.
"We are here to discuss the $60,000 in childcare funds that you, Brenda, intentionally diverted to a fraudulent lease."
Brenda's face instantly lost all its color.
"I... I didn't... Mark told me to do it!" she stammered, immediately throwing her own son under the bus.
Mark snapped his head toward his mother in absolute shock. "Mom! Shut up!"
"It's too late for that," I said, leaning forward.
"That money was specifically designated for childcare. By funneling it, you committed wire fraud and embezzlement."
Diane tapped her pen on the table. "We have prepared a settlement agreement."
"Mark will sign over full physical and legal custody of Leo to Sarah."
"He will waive all rights to alimony, and he will not contest the divorce."
"In exchange, we will not hand this folder over to the district attorney to press criminal felony charges against Brenda."
The room fell dead silent.
Brenda looked at Mark, her eyes wide with terror at the prospect of going to prison at sixty-five years old.
"Sign it, Mark," she whispered frantically. "Sign the damn papers!"
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Mark looked at me, realizing he was completely trapped by his own greed.
With a shaking hand, he picked up the pen and signed his rights away.
