Chapter 12 - The Deposition
The deposition took place in a glass-walled conference room on the top floor of Evelyn’s law firm.
Robert sat across the table, flanked by two senior partners from his defense firm. He wore a bitter, defiant smirk, believing his lawyers could talk their way out of any financial discrepancies.
“Mr. Thorne,” Evelyn began smoothly, setting a digital recorder on the table between them. “Under oath, in your signed financial affidavit submitted to this court three weeks ago, you stated under penalty of perjury that your total liquid net worth was approximately $120,000. Is that correct?”
Robert adjusted his cuffs. “Yes. That is correct. I am a working man, Ms. Vance. My wife’s sudden medical extravagance put a severe strain on my modest savings.”
Evelyn smiled—a sharp, lethal smile. She opened a blue folder and pulled out a stack of high-resolution printouts.
“Then perhaps you can explain Exhibit C, Mr. Thorne,” Evelyn said, sliding the papers across the glass table.
Robert’s defense lawyer reached for the papers first. As his eyes scanned the Cayman Islands bank statements and the deed to the lakefront condo, the lawyer’s face went completely pale. He immediately turned to Robert and whispered furiously in his ear.
Robert grabbed the paper, his eyes darting frantically across the lines of numbers. His smug expression dissolved into absolute terror.
“Where... where did you get this?” Robert stammered, sweat breaking out across his forehead.
“Your home desk, Mr. Thorne,” Evelyn said coolly. “Which your wife had every legal right to inspect. You omitted over $1.4 million in hidden liquid assets and real estate from your court filings. That is intentional bankruptcy fraud and perjury.”
“That... that money is separate property!” Robert yelled, standing up so fast his leather chair rolled back against the wall. “I earned that! She didn't work a single day of her life! She doesn't deserve a dime of it!”
“Mr. Thorne, sit down!” his own lawyer barked, grabbing his arm and pulling him back toward his seat.
Evelyn leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Here are our final terms, Robert. You will sign over the deed to the marital home to Sarah, free and clear of all mortgages. You will liquidate the lakefront property and hand over seventy percent of the proceeds to Sarah as a lump-sum division of marital property. You will pay full child support until Maya completes college, and you will cover one hundred percent of her medical bills and my legal fees.”
“And if I refuse?” Robert gasped, his voice crackling with desperation.
“If you refuse,” Evelyn said softly, “I walk down the hall, file a motion for fraud on the court, and forward these offshore banking records to the Internal Revenue Service and the federal prosecutor’s office. You won't just lose your money, Robert. You will go to prison.”
The room went dead silent.
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Robert sat in his chair, panting lightly, looking at his lawyers. Both of his attorneys looked away, refusing to offer a single word of defense.
Slowly, with hands that were shaking violently, Robert took his silver pen, reached for the settlement document, and signed his name on the dotted line.
