Chapter 8 - The DepositionOn Monday morning, before my meeting with HR, Eleanor filed a civil lawsuit for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress against Diane Vance, attaching the raw dining room footage as Exhibit A.
Simultaneously, Eleanor sent a formal cease-and-desist letter to Facebook and Instagram with the video attached, resulting in Diane’s viral post being taken down for spreading fabricated, defamatory content.
When I walked into the HR meeting at my firm, I didn't go in defensive. I walked in with my legal team and presented the police report, the court injunction, and the video footage. Within fifteen minutes, my firm’s corporate counsel issued an official statement supporting me and warning Ethan’s legal counsel against attempting to involve my employer in marital litigation.
Two weeks later, we met in a sleek, glass-walled conference room in downtown Chicago for the formal divorce deposition.
Ethan sat on one side of the large oak table, flanked by his attorney, a weary-looking man named Mr. Henderson. Diane sat in the corner of the room on a visitor’s chair, insisting on attending despite Eleanor’s objections.
Ethan looked terrible. His suit was slightly rumpled, dark circles shadowed his eyes, and he couldn't bring himself to look me directly in the face.
“We are here to negotiate a settlement,” Mr. Henderson began, clearing his throat. “My client, Ethan Vance, is willing to waive his claim to the townhouse equity in exchange for the release of the frozen $45,000 in the D&E Management account and the dismissal of the conversion charges.”
Eleanor let out a short, quiet laugh that cut through the room like a knife.
“Mr. Henderson, you must be joking,” Eleanor said, leaning forward. “Your client illegally converted non-marital funds derived from my client’s inheritance. We have documented proof that $35,000 of marital income was systematically funneled into D&E Management LLC over eighteen months without my client’s knowledge or consent.”
“It was an investment for our future family home!” Ethan blurted out, unable to keep quiet. “Claire was going to live there too!”
“Then why was Claire’s name completely omitted from the LLC registration, the purchase contract, and the mortgage application?” Eleanor countered smoothly, pulling out copies of the land purchase agreement. “The contract lists Diane Vance and Ethan Vance as joint fifty-percent owners. Claire wasn't a beneficiary; she was an unwitting sponsor.”
Diane stood up from her chair, her face contorting with rage. “She enjoyed living in my son’s home! She owed us that money!”
“Sit down, Mrs. Vance!” Mr. Henderson snapped, turning to glare at his own client’s mother. “You are not a party to this deposition!”
Eleanor turned to Ethan, her voice dropping into a cold, lethal tone. “Mr. Vance, if we go to trial, my client will not only recover the full $45,000, but she will also seek a full judgment for the $35,000 converted into your LLC, full sole ownership of the townhouse, and attorney fees. Furthermore, the local prosecutor’s office is currently reviewing the video footage of your mother’s assault on an eighteen-year-old high school graduate.”
Ethan’s eyes widened in sheer panic. He looked at his lawyer. “Can they do that?”
Mr. Henderson leaned over and whispered frantically into Ethan’s ear for two full minutes. As Ethan listened, his posture completely collapsed. He buried his face in his hands.
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“What are your terms?” Mr. Henderson finally asked, looking up with a defeated sigh.
Eleanor opened her folder and slid our final demand agreement across the table.
