Chapter 10
The conference room at Sarah Jenkins’ law firm was bathed in harsh fluorescent light, far removed from the luxurious opulence of the Sterling estate. Clara sat at the head of a long mahogany table, flanked by Sarah Jenkins and Catherine Vance. Directly across from them sat Julian’s new defense counsel—a high-priced corporate litigator flown in from out of state—alongside a stenographer whose fingers flew across a specialized keyboard with mechanical precision. Julian and Eleanor were not present; they remained remanded in custody, their legal strategy crumbling by the hour as federal investigators uncovered more layers of corporate fraud and obstruction of justice. The opposing attorney, a slick man named Harrison Vance—no relation—adjusted his tie and cleared his throat. "Mrs. Vance, we are here to discuss a potential settlement regarding the civil litigation and custody terms," Harrison began, attempting an aura of corporate intimidation. "My clients are prepared to offer a generous financial stipend and supervised visitation rights, provided you drop all supplementary federal allegations regarding corporate embezzlement and the cold case inquiry." Clara did not blink. She looked directly at the attorney, her posture perfectly relaxed yet entirely unyielding. "Your clients are facing decades in federal prison," Clara said, her voice calm and even, carrying none of the trembling hesitation of the woman who had once been cornered in a grand ballroom. "They don't have the leverage to negotiate terms anymore. The smartwatch recording was just the first file in a very long chain of evidence." Harrison scoffed, leaning back in his leather chair. "A single smartwatch recording of a minor domestic dispute is hardly enough to dismantle a multi-million-dollar corporation, Mrs. Vance. Juries are fickle, and high-priced defense teams know how to create reasonable doubt." Sarah Jenkins smiled coldly, sliding a thick folder across the mahogany table toward the opposing counsel. "That wasn't just a recording, Mr. Vance. That smartwatch synced directly to an encrypted federal server that also downloaded the corporate ledger from Julian's private terminal. We have clear proof of money laundering, offshore accounts, and systematic asset concealment designed to defraud federal tax agencies." Harrison opened the folder, his eyes scanning the first few pages. The confident, condescending smirk vanished instantly from his face, replaced by a pale, sweat-beaded expression of sheer panic. He looked up slowly, realizing that his clients weren't just fighting a bitter divorce—they were staring down the barrel of total, irreversible ruin.
