Chapter 9 - The Final Settlement
The judge didn't stop there.
Judge Mercer ordered an immediate freeze on all of Derek’s assets, including the hidden Delaware LLC. She mandated that Derek pay full child support, cover seventy percent of private schooling costs, and pay fifty thousand dollars in legal fees directly to Victoria's firm.
Furthermore, Derek was granted only limited, professionally supervised visitation with Owen and Maisie—two hours every second Saturday, held at a county family center under the watch of a court social worker.
And his access was contingent on completing six months of mandatory anger management and parenting rehabilitation classes.
When court adjourned, Derek stormed out into the marble hallway, his face contorted in absolute humiliation and defeat.
He cornered Victoria near the elevators.
"You betrayed your own family, Vicki!" Derek spat, his voice echoing off the high marble walls. "Mom and Dad are disgusted with you! You destroyed my life!"
Victoria stopped, turning to look her younger brother dead in the eyes with absolute, unyielding coldness.
"No, Derek," Victoria said softly. "You destroyed your own life the moment you made my nephew cry over a yellow piece of paper. You are lucky Lauren didn't press formal child labor and abuse charges against you."
She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a sharp whisper. "If you ever come near Lauren, Owen, or Maisie outside of your supervised court hours, I will personally see to it that the District Attorney opens a criminal prosecution file on your Delaware wire fraud. Am I clear?"
May you like
Derek swallowed hard, his arrogant posture completely crumbling. He looked at me standing beside Victoria—strong, independent, and completely free of his shadow.
He didn't say another word. He turned around, pressed the elevator button, and disappeared into the opening metal doors.
