Chapter 21 - Chloe Takes the Stand
Chloe wore navy.
Hair shorter.
Weight restored partly.
She looked like herself and not like herself.
Damian watched.
She did not.
Prosecutor asked:
“Why did you sign documents?”
“Sometimes because I believed what he said. Sometimes because I was exhausted. Sometimes because I was afraid of what happened if I refused.”
“Did you knowingly invest $300,000?”
“No.”
“Did you lend $140,000?”
“Yes.”
“Did you intend gift?”
“No.”
“Did you receive $84,000 salary?”
“No.”
“Did you authorize your company as collateral?”
“No.”
“Did you understand key-person insurance?”
“No.”
Defense:
“You are educated?”
“Yes.”
“Owned business?”
“Yes.”
“Read contracts professionally?”
“Design contracts, yes.”
“You could have read these?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Her voice shook.
“Because by then my husband controlled when I slept, ate, left work, and spoke to my mother.”
The courtroom went silent.
Defense:
“You could have walked out.”
Chloe looked at Damian for first time.
May you like
“I eventually did.”
That was enough.
