Chapter 14 - Victoria Takes the Stand
Victoria refused every plea offer.
She believed a jury would understand her.
Her defense portrayed her as a widow protecting a struggling family company.
She said Arthur concealed the fraud.
She said I manipulated the account to humiliate her.
She said she believed the money had become family property.
Then prosecutors played the recordings from her handbag.
“I taught you how to take control of it.”
The jury heard every word.
Victoria remained composed.
Her attorney asked why she kept those recordings.
“Because my son became unstable.”
The prosecutor stood.
“Did you prepare a false petition claiming Claire was unstable?”
Victoria’s mouth tightened.
“I relied on professionals.”
“Did you sign a sworn statement?”
“Yes.”
“Were the events described in that statement true?”
“I believed them to be.”
The prosecutor displayed a photograph of me crying after Sophie’s premature birth.
“What did you claim this showed?”
“Emotional instability.”
“What did it actually show?”
Victoria hesitated.
“A difficult medical period.”
“My client’s daughter was in neonatal intensive care, correct?”
“Yes.”
“And you used that photograph to suggest Claire was incapable of parenting?”
Victoria looked toward me.
I held her gaze.
The prosecutor continued.
“Did Claire provide millions to prevent Vance Holdings from failing?”
“She invested.”
“Did you personally spend from that account?”
“Arthur gave me permission.”
“Did you know the account belonged to Claire’s separate trust?”
“No.”
The prosecution played another recording.
Victoria’s voice said:
“Claire brought the money into this family.”
Her face finally changed.
The prosecutor asked, “Whose money did you understand it to be?”
Victoria refused to answer.
Then Margaret testified.
She described losing her home.
The false cognitive evaluation.
The pressure.
The theft.
Victoria’s attorney suggested Margaret’s memory was unreliable.
Margaret smiled.
“I remember the exact necklace Victoria wore when she lied to me.”
The courtroom laughed softly.
The judge silenced them.
Margaret continued.
“It was pearls. She wears them whenever she wants to look innocent.”
May you like
Victoria touched her necklace unconsciously.
Every juror saw it.
