Chapter 7: The Deposition
Chapter 7: The Deposition
The conference room at the Sterling family's legal firm was designed to intimidate. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city skyline, and the mahogany table was massive. Vanessa sat flanked by three high-priced lawyers, her posture perfect, her expression oozing condescension.
This was the mandatory deposition for the lawsuit her father had filed against Liam. She had already spent two hours on the record spinning her web of lies, detailing the "trauma" of the canceled wedding and reiterating her story that Lily had locked herself out by accident.
"So, Miss Sterling," Marcus began, pacing slowly at the head of the table. "Just to clarify for the record. You stated that the child, Lily, was playing with the balcony door handle, locked it by mistake, and you were frantically trying to free her when my client entered the room?"
"Yes. That is exactly what happened," Vanessa lied smoothly, not missing a beat.
"And you never threatened the child? You never mentioned sending her to a boarding school?"
"Of course not. I loved her," Vanessa said, pressing a hand to her chest.
Marcus stopped pacing. He turned to his assistant. "Play Exhibit C."
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A large screen at the end of the room flickered to life. It was black-and-white, soundless security footage from the upstairs hallway. It clearly showed Lily stepping onto the balcony to look at the snow. Then, it showed Vanessa walking up to the door, turning the deadbolt from the inside, and glaring at the child. Lily began to panic, pounding on the glass. Vanessa simply turned her back, picked up a nail file, and admired her reflection in the glass door while the child shivered in the freezing cold.
The silence in the room was absolute. Vanessa's flawless complexion turned a sickly shade of gray.
