Chapter 5 - The Legal Counteroffensive
Knowing that the local police department had officers connected to my father, I didn't take the video to the local precinct. Instead, I hired Marcus Vance—no relation to my family—a renowned, uncompromising civil rights attorney who specialized in high-profile criminal defense and prosecution.
When Marcus viewed the video in his high-rise office, his jaw hardened.
"This isn't just assault, Evelyn," Marcus said, playing the clip of Preston swinging the oak board again. "This is felony assault with a deadly weapon on a child, combined with evidence tampering, filing a false police report, and conspiracy."
"My father controls the local district attorney," I said carefully. "They will try to reduce the charges or dismiss them."
"Then we don't start with the district attorney," Marcus replied with a fierce smile. "We leak a redacted ten-second clip of the assault to the press, file a $50 million civil lawsuit in federal court under federal child protection statutes, and force the State’s Attorney to take action."
By 8:00 AM on Monday morning, the news broke.
Major news networks broadcast the story: "High Society Groom Accused of Savage Assault on 8-Year-Old Niece at Whitmore Hotel."
While the news didn't show Sophie's face, the clear video of Preston swinging the heavy wooden board at a helpless child went viral worldwide. The public outrage was immediate and catastrophic. Thousands of people flooded the social media pages of the Vance Law Firm, demanding justice.
May you like
Within hours, the board of directors at Preston's firm suspended him indefinitely. The luxury brands sponsoring his wedding canceled their contracts, and protesters gathered outside my parents' gated estate in Lincoln Park.
The Vance family shield had finally cracked.
