Chapter 8 - The Price of a SignatureThree months later, David sat in a federal holding cell, waiting for his trial.
His lawyer, Harold, stood on the other side of the glass, his expression grim. "David, the prosecution is offering a plea deal. Ten years in a minimum-security facility if you plead guilty to all counts and cooperate with the asset forfeiture."
David stared at his hands, which were rough and dry from the prison soap. "What about the house? The investments?"
"They're gone, David," Harold said gently. "The government has seized everything. The house is being auctioned next month. The cars are already gone. Your mother had to move out of her apartment because the company was paying her rent, and those accounts are frozen."
David closed his eyes. "And Claire?"
"Claire is thriving," Harold said. "She’s been promoted to Director of Forensic Investigations at Vanguard. She’s the lead consultant on several major corporate cases. She bought a beautiful townhouse in the suburbs last week."
David’s breath hitched. "She... she planned this."
"She didn't plan your fraud, David," Harold pointed out. "You did that. She just refused to let you drag her down with you. When you demanded everything in the divorce, you forgot that everything included your sins. She let you sign your own doom."
David remembered the moment outside the courtroom, when his lawyer had whispered those five words that changed everything.
He had smiled, thinking he had won. But Harold had leaned in and whispered:
May you like
"She gave you the debt."
At the time, David hadn't understood. He thought Harold was referring to the minor mortgage on the house. Now, he understood the devastating truth. Claire hadn't just given him the debt. She had given him the consequences.
