Chapter 10 - The Video Evidence
Vance tried to save face. "Even if the financial documents hold up in court, my client still suffered severe emotional trauma during the Christmas incident! Ethan aggressively seized her property and abandoned her!"
Sarah Jenkins smiled. It was a terrifyingly calm smile.
"Ah, yes. The Christmas incident," Sarah said. She reached into her briefcase and pulled out a small black flash drive. "Let's discuss what actually happened on December 25th."
Diane scoffed. "There were no cameras in my dining room!"
"No," Sarah agreed. "There weren't. But your neighbors across the street have a high-definition Ring doorbell camera pointed directly at your front driveway and porch."
Sarah plugged the flash drive into the conference room laptop and projected the video onto the wall monitor.
The video displayed crystal-clear audio and visual footage from Christmas night:
The front door of the mansion flew open. Ethan walked out carrying three-year-old Mia, holding my hand.
Behind them, Diane ran out onto the porch, screaming hysteric obscenities:
"You little bitch! You ruined my family! I hit you once and I'll hit you again if you bring that bastard kid back here!"
The audio captured every word with terrifying clarity. It clearly showed Diane lunging toward me on the porch before Ethan stepped in front of her, calmly stating: "We are finished here."
The conference room went dead silent.
Vance closed his folder slowly. He turned to look at his client, his face full of disbelief and deep professional embarrassment.
"Mrs. Vance..." Vance whispered, his microphone picking up his horrified tone. "You told me he attacked you."
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Diane sat frozen, her lips trembling, her elaborate facade completely shattered in front of six lawyers and a court reporter.
Sarah Jenkins closed her laptop. "Mr. Vance, if this lawsuit isn't withdrawn with prejudice by 5:00 PM today, my client will be filing criminal assault charges against Diane, alongside a civil countersuit for slander, defamation, and extortion."
