Chapter 26 - The Deposition Trap
Armed with the handwritten ledger from Julian’s father, Ana Brennan immediately scheduled an emergency deposition. Under the terms of the temporary injunction, Victoria was legally required to appear at Ana's law office to answer questions under oath before the formal court trial could begin.
The conference room was suffocatingly quiet. Victoria sat on one side of the glass table, flanked by two high-priced corporate defense lawyers from San Francisco. She looked completely relaxed, filed her nails, and didn't even look at Emily and Julian, who sat directly opposite her.
"Let’s make this quick, Ms. Brennan," Victoria’s lead attorney said arrogantly. "My client has a flight back to Geneva at the end of the week. The terms of the 1994 trust are clear. Emily Vance has forfeited her right to the property by changing her surname. There is nothing to debate."
Ana Brennan smiled serenely, opening her folder. "We aren't here to debate the name clause, Counselor. We are here to discuss your client's eligibility as a trustee."
Ana pulled out a copy of Julian’s father’s ledger, alongside newly subpoenaed bank records from the Swiss bank Credite Geneve dating back to 2004.
"Victoria," Ana said, addressing her directly. "Under California probate code, a beneficiary loses all rights to an irrevocable trust if it is proven they committed grand larceny or fraudulent conversion against the settlor of the trust. In 2003, you forged Abigail Darcy's signature to clear out $500,000 from her personal savings account."
Victoria’s hand froze. Her eyes snapped up, her icy gaze locking onto Ana. "That is a baseless, slanderous accusation. My mother gave me those funds as a gift."
"A gift?" Julian spoke up, his voice vibrating with a deep, controlled rage. He slid his father's journal across the table. "Then why did you burn down Vance & Associates’ warehouse when my father refused to give you the rest of the escrow money? Why did you flee the country forty-eight hours after the fire department launched an arson investigation?"
Victoria’s attorneys quickly looked at the journal, their expressions instantly shifting from arrogance to deep concern. They leaned in, whispering frantically to Victoria, who pushed them away angrily.
"That old drunk’s diary proves nothing!" Victoria snarled, her aristocratic composure completely cracking for the first time. "He was a failed businessman looking for someone to blame! My mother loved me! She created that 1994 trust to ensure the land stayed with a true Darcy, not some charity case niece who marries the son of a contractor!"
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"Actually," Emily said, speaking firmly, her hand resting over her grandmother's silver watch. "My grandmother left a video diary in her safety deposit box, which Ana opened this morning. In it, she explicitly states that she hid the original 1994 trust documents because she was terrified of what you would do to this family if you ever found them. You didn't come back for the house, Victoria. You came back because you thought the statute of limitations on your financial frauds had run out."
Ana Brennan stood up, leaning over the table. "The statute of limitations on forgery for a civil property claim resets the moment the fraud is discovered by the injured party. Emily discovered it today. We are filing a counter-suit for civil racketeering, fraud, and malicious interference. If you don't drop your claim on the Victorian house by 5:00 PM today, these documents go straight to the District Attorney's office."
