Chapter 17 - Jennifer Stops Defending the Marriage
Daniel denied targeting Jennifer.
During deposition, he insisted he had genuinely fallen in love with her.
Jennifer listened without reacting.
“Did your mother identify my trust before we met?”
Daniel looked at his attorney.
“Answer,” Rachel said.
“Yes.”
“Did she encourage you to introduce yourself to me?”
“Yes.”
Jennifer’s stomach tightened.
“Did you know about my inheritance when you asked me on our first date?”
“Yes.”
The truth hurt.
But not in the way Daniel expected.
It did not break Jennifer.
It released her.
For months, part of her had still protected the memory of their beginning.
The restaurant where they first kissed.
The weekend trip where Daniel said he had never felt this way before.
The proposal beneath white lights in her mother’s garden.
Now those memories no longer controlled her.
They belonged to a version of Daniel that had never fully existed.
Rachel asked one final question.
“Did you marry Jennifer for money?”
Daniel looked at Jennifer for the first time.
“No.”
For once, she believed he was not telling the whole truth rather than a complete lie.
Perhaps he had started with money.
Perhaps some part of him had loved her later.
It no longer mattered.
Love without honesty was not enough.
After the deposition, Daniel caught Jennifer in the hallway.
A court officer stood nearby.
“I did love you.”
Jennifer looked at him.
“You loved what I gave you.”
“That isn’t fair.”
“Neither was my marriage.”
Daniel’s eyes reddened.
“Jennifer.”
She shook her head.
“No more.”
She walked away.
That afternoon, federal prosecutors announced charges against several individuals connected to Westbridge.
Robert entered a cooperation agreement.
Patricia was charged with financial offenses and obstruction-related conduct.
Daniel faced multiple financial counts tied to false documents, hidden transfers, and misuse of corporate funds.
The criminal case would take months.
The divorce did not have to.
With assets frozen and evidence overwhelming, Daniel’s position collapsed.
His attorney requested settlement discussions.
Jennifer agreed under one condition.
Lily’s name would be removed from every Westbridge-related trust and entity.
Daniel signed.
He also relinquished claims against Jennifer’s inheritance.
The marital home would be sold.
Jennifer would receive reimbursement for money removed from their joint savings.
Custody would remain subject to the family court and Daniel’s legal circumstances.
Chloe filed separately for child support for Evan.
For once, Daniel could not make one woman pay for what he owed another.
Jennifer thought the worst was finally behind her.
Then Rachel called.
The forensic accountant had found one final transaction.
It occurred the morning of Lily’s baptism.
$75,000 transferred from Westbridge.
Recipient:
May you like
SUSAN MILLER.
Jennifer’s mother.
