Chapter 15 - THE DEPOSITION
In January, the pre-trial depositions began in the state courthouse.
I sat in the back row of the deposition room as Chloe’s new court-appointed defense attorney—a sharp, aggressive litigator named Marcus Vance (no relation, thankfully)—attempted to dismantle Emily’s credibility.
"Mrs. Vance," Marcus Vance began, pacing smoothly back and forth in front of the witness stand where Emily sat with quiet dignity. "Isn't it true that leading up to the incident on November 7th, you were suffering from severe anxiety, prenatal depression, and erratic mood swings?"
Emily didn't flinch. She looked straight into the attorney's eyes. "I was eight months pregnant, under enormous stress due to discovering financial fraud in my husband's family business, and deeply concerned for my safety. But my mental state was completely sound."
"Yet you claim my client intentionally shoved you," Marcus pressed, leaning in closer. "Is it not medically possible that due to pregnancy-related vertigo and your silk slippers, you simply lost your footing and spun around, misinterpreting Chloe's instinctive grab to save you as a push?"
Emily let out a quiet, cold laugh that silenced the room.
"Mr. Vance," Emily said clearly, her voice echoing off the wood-paneled walls. "Your client didn't try to save me. She stood over me while I was bleeding on the floor, laughed, and said 'Oops.' And thankfully, the high-definition nanny camera my husband and I installed recorded every single second of her premeditated attempt to murder me and my unborn child."
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Marcus Vance faltered for a second, opening his mouth to object, before realizing he had nowhere to go. The video evidence was ironclad.
When Prosecutor Evelyn Vance introduced the newly recovered audio file proving premeditation between Chloe and her mother, the defense team’s case completely disintegrated.
