Chapter 10
Victoria listened without interrupting, absorbing Clara’s accusations with the detached patience of a seasoned trial lawyer. When Clara finished, Victoria opened her leather briefcase, pulled out a manila folder, and slid it across the coffee table toward Clara.
“You’re entirely justified in your distrust,” Victoria conceded quietly, her voice softening. “Mother has always enabled Julian’s worst impulses, shielding him from consequences since childhood. When they realized you were developing an independent career and finding your own voice, they panicked. Control was the only way they knew how to keep him anchored.”
Clara glanced down at the folder without touching it. “What is this?”
“It’s a sworn affidavit from Julian’s former college roommate regarding a prior domestic assault that was swept under the rug with family money,” Victoria revealed, watching Clara’s reaction closely. “And it’s a ledger of my mother’s hidden assets that can be used to subpoena their joint accounts if Julian tries to hide marital property during your divorce proceedings.”
Sarah stepped forward, her protective instincts flaring. “Why are you giving this to us? Why betray your own family?”
Victoria looked up, meeting Sarah’s fierce gaze without flinching. “Because my family is rotting from the inside out, and protecting Julian anymore isn't loyalty—it’s complicity. If this goes to a public trial, Julian and Mother will be utterly destroyed professionally and legally. I’m offering you a clean, accelerated settlement: full control of your freelance funds, restitution for the forged accounts, an immediate uncontested divorce decree, and a permanent restraining order against both Julian and Helen. In exchange, we settle quietly without dragging out a sensationalized courtroom spectacle.”
Clara stared at Victoria, searching for hidden traps, double-crosses, or manipulative angles. But as she read through the summary of the affidavit, the cold logic of Victoria’s proposal became undeniable. Victoria wasn't acting out of altruism; she was executing damage control to protect the family name from criminal exposure. But for Clara, the outcome was identical to her ultimate goal: absolute freedom, financial restoration, and closure without prolonged trauma.
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“I want a non-disclosure clause built in,” Clara said firmly, leaning forward. “And I want the settlement funds transferred into my separate account before I sign the final decree. No delays, no excuses.”
Victoria nodded slowly, a faint hint of professional respect touching her eyes. “Done. I’ll have the revised paperwork drawn up and filed through Marcus by tomorrow afternoon.”
