Chapter 8 - The Legal Arena
Three weeks later, the preliminary divorce hearing and emergency asset hearing convened in Department 4 of the County Superior Court.
Mark arrived flanked by a cut-rate divorce attorney named Bradley Higgins—the only lawyer he could afford after his firm accounts were frozen. Mark looked like a shadow of his former self. His hair was unkempt, his eyes sunken, and the bespoke suit he wore hung loosely on his frame. Behind him sat Jessica, released on bail, wearing a muted gray dress and looking thoroughly miserable.
"Your Honor," Higgins began, standing before Judge Katherine Vance (no relation to Mark). "My client, Mark Vance, is the victim of extreme, calculated financial abandonment. The respondent, Sarah Sterling, has unilaterally frozen my client's commercial lines, leaving him destitute, unable to pay his mortgage or support his family obligations. We are requesting an immediate emergency spousal support order of $35,000 per month, as well as fifty percent temporary possession of the marital penthouse."
Judge Vance adjusted her spectacles, looking over her bench. "Ms. Sterling, your response?"
Diane Sterling stood up smoothly. "Your Honor, we submit Exhibit A through F. First, the prenuptial agreement signed by both parties, complete with independent counsel certifications. Section 14 clearly dictates that in the event of documented fraudulent conversion of funds or gross moral turpitude, all claims to spousal maintenance are wholly forfeit."
"Fraudulent conversion?" Higgins sputtered. "There is no proof of—"
"Exhibit C, Your Honor," Diane continued, her voice clear and commanding. "A comprehensive forensic audit showing that Mr. Vance illicitly transferred $380,000 of my client’s separate non-marital funds into shell accounts controlled by his sister, Jessica Vance, to settle personal debts. That constitutes grand larceny under penal code 487."
Mark slumped back into his chair, burying his face in his hands.
"Furthermore," Diane added, "the penthouse in question was purchased entirely via Ms. Sterling’s pre-marital inheritance and personal earnings, titled solely under her revocable trust. Mr. Vance has contributed zero capital toward the mortgage or maintenance."
Judge Vance reviewed the documents with a grim expression. She took off her glasses, fixing her gaze squarely on Mark.
"Mr. Vance, not only is your request for spousal support denied in its entirety, but this court finds sufficient prima facie evidence of financial fraud to refer your files directly to the District Attorney’s Economic Crimes Division."
Jessica let out a choked sob from the gallery. Mark looked up, his voice cracking as he looked across the aisle at me.
"Sarah... please. You don't have to do this. We can talk about this. I love you."
May you like
I looked at him with the cold detachment of a stranger examining a specimen under glass. "You didn't love me, Mark. You loved my money, and you loved feeling superior while my parents suffered your family's insults. Your time is up."
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