Chapter 13 - Deposition of Lies
The legal proceedings officially commenced with depositions. Emily sat at the end of a long conference table in a sterile corporate law office, facing her sister Jessica and their family attorney, a notorious shark named Richard Vance—who happened to be Julian’s estranged uncle.
The familial connection between the opposing attorneys added a suffocating layer of tension to the room. Richard Vance smiled nastily at Julian. "Unfortunate to see you on the wrong side of justice, nephew."
"Let's keep this professional, Richard," Julian replied, his voice clipping the air like ice.
Jessica’s deposition was a masterclass in manufactured grievance. Under oath, she wept convincingly, claiming that Emily had systematically isolated their grandmother from the rest of the family during her final year.
"Emily controlled her medication, her visitors, and her phone calls," Jessica lied smoothly, dabbing her dry eyes with a tissue. "Grandma wanted to leave the house to all of us, but Emily forced her to sign that new will. She threatened to put Grandma in a state-run facility if she didn't comply."
Emily clenched her fists under the table, her grandmother’s silver watch feeling heavy on her wrist. She wanted to scream, to call her sister a liar to her face. But Julian’s hand gently found her knee under the table, applying a firm, grounding pressure. Stay calm, his touch communicated. Let them dig their own grave.
When it was Emily’s turn to be questioned by Richard Vance, the badgering was relentless. He attacked her character, her finances, and her relationship with Julian, suggesting that Julian was using his legal expertise to help her orchestrate a property theft.
"Isn't it true, Ms. Vance—oh, excuse me, Ms. Emily—that you began dating your attorney before the will was even executed?" Richard sneered.
"That is a lie, and you know it," Emily responded, staring directly into the older lawyer's eyes. "My grandmother was of perfectly sound mind. She left me the house because I was the only person who actually cared for her, rather than treating her like a financial asset."
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The deposition lasted for six grueling hours. By the end, Emily felt entirely drained, her mind buzzing with the sheer malice of her family's fabrications. As they left the building, Julian took her hand.
"They think they won today because they told a good story," Julian said as they reached the parking garage. "But stories require evidence. Tomorrow, we go on the offensive."
