Chapter 6 - The Courtroom Checkmate
Six months later, the inside of the county courthouse was cold, smelling of floor wax and old wood. I sat beside Richard at the plaintiff’s table, wearing a sharp, emerald-green power suit. I felt invincible.
Across the aisle sat Mark. He looked like he had aged ten years. His expensive haircut had grown out, his suit looked slightly too big for him, and the arrogant sneer he used to wear was entirely gone. Beside him sat a public defender who looked like he would rather be anywhere else in the world.
Mark’s assets had been frozen during the fraud investigation, meaning he couldn't afford the high-powered divorce attorney he had threatened me with.
"All rise," the bailiff called out as Judge Hernandez entered the room.
The proceedings were swift and brutal. Mark’s lawyer attempted to argue that because we had been married for eight years, Mark was entitled to alimony and fifty percent of my interior design firm's valuation.
Richard didn't even break a sweat. He stood up, adjusted his tie, and decimated Mark’s entire existence.
"Your Honor," Richard began, projecting his voice perfectly. "Mr. Vance’s claim to alimony and business equity is not only absurd, it is legally void under the doctrine of dissipation of marital assets and intentional fraud. We have presented Exhibit A: financial records proving Mr. Vance funneled marital funds into a hidden offshore account. Exhibit B: documentation of an attempted, unauthorized wire transfer of five hundred thousand dollars. And Exhibit C: the false police report Mr. Vance filed from Mexico in an attempt to weaponize law enforcement against my client."
The judge looked over her glasses at Mark. "Mr. Vance, is there any defense you would like to offer regarding these fraudulent transfers?"
Mark swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the table. "I... I was an authorized user on the accounts, Your Honor. I thought I had the right..."
"Being an authorized user does not give you the right to embezzle half a million dollars to fund an extramarital affair, Mr. Vance," the judge interrupted, her tone dripping with disdain.
She slammed her gavel.
The ruling was a total, unmitigated victory. Because of his criminal fraud, Mark was stripped of any claim to my business, my savings, or my properties. He was ordered to repay the eighty thousand dollars he had already stolen, plus my legal fees. He walked out of the courtroom with nothing but the clothes on his back and a mountain of debt he would never be able to repay.
As we walked down the courthouse steps into the bright spring sunshine, Mark tried to approach me one last time.
"Clara," he said, his voice raspy. "How am I supposed to survive? I have nothing."
I stopped and looked at the man I had once loved. I felt no anger anymore. I felt nothing at all.
May you like
"You should ask Vanessa," I replied smoothly. "Oh, wait. You can't. She's currently serving three to five years for forging David's signature." I tilted my head, offering him a perfectly polite, entirely icy smile. "Good luck, Mark."
I turned my back on him and walked toward my waiting car, leaving him standing alone in the shadow of the courthouse.
