Chapter 12
Diane entered a plea before her trial.
She admitted conspiring to conceal the ring substitution, encouraging Derek’s access to family information, participating in the undervalued sale plan, and making false statements.
She did not admit knowing every forged document.
Evidence did not require her to accept crimes that could not be proven.
Her age and lack of prior convictions mattered.
So did the child assault, planning, family position, and financial harm.
She received a custodial sentence shorter than Derek’s, followed by supervision, restitution, and permanent removal from trust and corporate advisory roles.
At sentencing, she addressed Toby through a statement approved by the court.
“I believed protecting Amanda’s wedding justified decisions that harmed everyone in the room.
“I believed family reputation belonged to me more than truth belonged to you.
“I struck a child before searching an adult.
“I helped a man enter our family because I feared my daughter would be alone.
“In trying to prevent an empty chair, I placed a criminal beside her.”
No request for forgiveness.
That was the first mature part.
Amanda cried.
I did too.
Grief can exist beside consequence.
My mother went into custody without looking at Toby.
Not because she did not care.
May you like
Because the protective order and his therapist’s recommendation required distance.
For once, she followed a boundary she did not control.
