Chapter 7 - The Deposition
Six weeks later.
The high-rise legal district downtown was bustling with morning traffic as I walked into the grand conference center on the twentieth floor of the State Judicial Building.
Today was the formal pre-trial deposition for the civil asset recovery and divorce proceedings.
I sat at the long glass conference table beside my primary family law attorney, Sarah Jenkins, and Arthur Vance. Across from us sat Claire’s court-appointed public defense attorney, a stressed-young lawyer named Miller, alongside Claire herself.
Six weeks in county detention had stripped away every last trace of Claire's glamorous, arrogant persona.
She wore a dark grey, oversized institutional jumpsuit. Her hair was limp and unstyled, her face devoid of makeup, dark red rings hollowed out beneath her eyes. She sat slouched in her chair, staring down at her handcuffed wrists resting on the table, refusing to make eye contact with anyone in the room.
Her former boss, Marcus Vale, was not present—he had signed a formal federal plea agreement three days prior, agreeing to serve sixteen years in federal prison in exchange for testifying against his corporate co-conspirators.
Sarah Jenkins tapped her pen on her notepad, turning on the official digital audio recorder resting in the center of the table.
"This is the formal deposition in the matter of Mercer v. Mercer, Case Number 2026-DR-4092," Sarah announced clearly. "Present for the plaintiff is Daniel Mercer, accompanied by counsel. Present for the defendant is Claire Mercer, accompanied by public defense counsel."
Sarah looked across the table at Claire's attorney. "Mr. Miller, have you reviewed the proposed complete settlement agreement provided by our office?"
Miller let out a tired sigh, nodding slowly. "We have reviewed the document in its entirety."
"For the record," Sarah stated smoothly, "the terms of the agreement are as follows:"
Absolute Dissolution of Marriage with zero spousal support or alimony awarded to the defendant.
Permanent Termination of Parental Rights: Defendant Claire Mercer voluntarily surrenders all legal and physical custodial rights to Lily Mercer and Noah Mercer, with a permanent restraining order prohibiting any direct or indirect contact.
Full Restitution and Asset Surrender: Defendant surrenders all claims to the residential property, all joint bank accounts, and agrees to the complete liquidation of CV Management LLC to fully restore the children's 529 College Savings Plan and the Mercer Family Trust.
Claire’s attorney leaned over, whispering softly into her ear. "Claire... this is the absolute best deal we can get. If you sign this civil surrender, the state prosecutor has agreed to drop two of the felony embezzlement counts in your criminal case, which reduces your mandatory minimum sentence from fifteen years down to six."
Claire slowly raised her head. Her eyes, filled with a bitter, hollow defeat, met mine for the first time in six weeks.
"Daniel..." she rasped, her voice dry and hoarse. "Please... you can't take my children away from me forever. I'm their mother. I made a terrible mistake... I was lost... Marcus manipulated me..."
I looked at her across the table, my expression entirely calm, neutral, and unshakeable.
"You weren't manipulated when you shoved your daughter away at six o'clock, Claire," I said, my voice quiet and clear. "You weren't manipulated when you looked into my home security camera and smiled while planning to steal our children's college fund. You made your choice."
"I was sick!" she sobbed, tears cutting clean tracks through the dust on her cheeks. "I was unhappy! You were always working!"
"I was working to build a safe, secure home for our family," I replied softly. "You chose to tear that home down for a luxury lifestyle with a criminal. You left our seven-year-old daughter to collapse under the weight of her brother on a wet floor while you went to a party."
I pushed the heavy legal document across the polished glass table, placing an ink pen beside her trembling, handcuffed hands.
"Sign the papers, Claire," I said. "Save whatever dignity you have left, and give our children the peace they deserve."
Claire stared at the document for three agonizing minutes, the quiet humming of the air conditioner the only sound filling the vast conference room.
Then, with a shaking hand, she picked up the pen, flipped to the final signature page, and signed her name across the dotted line:
Claire Mercer.
Sarah Jenkins immediately pulled the document back, verifying the signature, and stamped it with the official legal seal.
"The deposition is concluded," Sarah announced, turning off the recorder.
May you like
Two armed corrections officers stepped into the room, taking Claire by her elbows and pulling her up from her chair. As they turned her toward the door leading back to the holding transport, Claire turned her head one last time, looking at me with a desperate, hopeless gaze.
I did not look back. I picked up my briefcase, shook hands with Sarah and Arthur, and walked out of the room into the bright afternoon sunlight.
