Chapter 16 - The Confession
On Monday afternoon, in Sarah Vance’s conference room, Ben signed the global settlement agreement.
His lawyer sat beside him, completely silent, knowing they had zero leverage.
Under the terms of the agreement:
1. Claire Miller was granted sole legal and physical custody of Lily Miller, with Ben receiving only scheduled, supervised daytime visits once a month.
2. Claire was awarded full ownership of the marital home and 100% of the remaining equity.
3. Ben signed a legal confession of embezzlement regarding the $62,000 corporate theft, backed by a personal promissory note secured against his mother’s condo.
4. The remaining $45,000 stolen from Lily’s college account was declared an un-dischargeable debt, to be garnished directly from any future wages Ben earned, plus 8% annual interest.
Ben’s hand shook so violently that his signature was barely legible. When he put the pen down, he looked up at me, a broken, hollow shell of the man I had married ten years ago.
“Can I see Lily before I go?” he whispered.
May you like
“Not today,” I said. “Lily is at pottery class with Maya. She’s busy being a happy child.”
***
