Chapter 9: The Deposition
The preparation for the criminal trial involved endless meetings, but nothing was as grueling as the civil deposition for the divorce. Julian’s legal team, a group of expensive, aggressive defense attorneys, sought to dismantle Elena's character. They gathered in a stifling, wood-paneled conference room. Julian was not present, but his proxy, a shark-like lawyer named Sterling, sat across from Elena with a smug expression.
"Mrs. Vance," Sterling began, his tone dripping with condescension, "isn't it true that you and my client often engaged in consensual, rough roleplay? Couldn't the events of that evening be construed as a misunderstanding?"
Elena’s heart pounded, a familiar spike of anxiety hitting her chest. But then she looked at Marcus, who offered a reassuring nod. She took a deep breath.
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"There was no misunderstanding," Elena said, her voice unwavering. "Consent can be withdrawn at any time, though it was never given for abuse. He counted to two hundred while he beat me. That is not roleplay. That is torture."
Sterling tried to press further, attempting to dig into her financial motives, but Marcus swiftly shut him down. As the hours ticked by, Elena realized something profound: they had nothing. The recording was a wall of truth they could not climb over. Their aggressive tactics weren't a display of power; they were an act of sheer desperation. She left the deposition feeling not victimized, but victorious.
