Chapter 4 - The Trials of Fire
The next three months were the hardest of my life. The legal battle began in earnest, and because I was the primary witness and victim, I was dragged into depositions constantly. My father’s lawyers tried everything to paint me as a disgruntled, unstable daughter who was angry about family dynamics.
They brought up my teenage years, my lack of friends, and the fact that I lived in a storage unit as proof that I was "mentally incompetent."
But I had a secret weapon. During my late-night study sessions at the Ellison library, I had befriended a young law professor named Clara Sterling. Clara was a former federal prosecutor who taught advanced criminal law. After hearing my story and looking over my documents, she took a personal interest in my case, providing me with pro-bono guidance and connecting me with a ruthless victim’s advocate attorney.
During a crucial deposition in November, my father sat across the table from me. It was the first time I had seen him since the morning I left. He looked broken, his expensive suit hanging loosely on a frame that had lost twenty pounds.
His lawyer leaned forward. "Miss Vance, isn't it true that you willingly allowed your parents access to your credit history to assist with family expenses?"
"No," I stated clearly. "Here is a recording from my phone dated January 14th, where my father explicitly states he used my Social Security number without my permission because 'girls don't need independent credit lines anyway.'"
I clicked play on my phone. My father's loud, arrogant voice filled the conference room, clear as day.
Dad's lawyer froze. He looked at my father, whose face had gone completely pale.
"Where did you get that?" my father whispered, his voice trembling.
"You talk loudly when you drink, Dad," I said. "And you always forgot that the smart-home assistant in the living room logs audio when triggered. I just downloaded the history from the app."
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The defense lawyer slammed his folder shut. "We need a recess. Now."
Outside the room, Clara clapped me on the shoulder. "They're done, Ava. They're going to offer a plea deal. Your father is going to prison, and your brother is going with him. They have no cards left to play."
