Chapter 6 - RICHARD’S VERSION OF ME
The custody evaluator, Dr. Samuel Price, interviewed Richard first.
I knew because Richard told everyone.
He posted online:
Finally, a professional will hear the truth instead of a viral clip.
The judge ordered both of us to stop discussing the case publicly.
Richard deleted it.
Vanessa did not.
Her posts became evidence.
Drama queen.
Gold digger.
Bad mother.
One caption:
Wait until everyone finds out who she really is.
I froze.
Did Vanessa know?
Helen subpoenaed communications.
The answer was less dramatic.
Vanessa meant the affair discovery.
Richard had told her I was “secretly manipulative.”
He did not know about Sterling.
Nobody in his family did.
That was important.
His abuse was not motivated by hidden wealth.
He believed I was powerless.
That made it worse in a different way.
Dr. Price asked Richard:
“Why did you push Maya into the cake?”
“She humiliated me.”
“How?”
“She challenged my mother in front of guests.”
“Was her refusal related to parenting?”
“Yes.”
“Did that justify physical force?”
“No.”
“Why use it?”
“I lost control.”
“Did you apologize?”
“I tried.”
The parenting app contained no apology.
Only:
You made me snap.
Dr. Price asked about Vanessa.
Richard admitted the affair after records made denial impossible.
“How long?”
“Six months.”
“Did Lily know?”
“No.”
“Did Maya?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you use marital funds?”
“Some.”
“Why is Vanessa filming the assault?”
“She films everything.”
That part was true.
Vanessa treated life as content.
The evaluator later interviewed me.
“Have you ever hit Richard?”
“No.”
“Thrown objects?”
“One mug.”
“When?”
“Two years ago.”
“Context?”
“We were arguing. I threw it into the sink. It broke.”
“Was Lily present?”
“No.”
“Threatened to take Lily?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I said if he kept letting Olivia undermine me, I would leave with Lily.”
“Did you mean deny him contact?”
“At the time, I was furious. I didn’t have a legal plan.”
I refused to become perfect.
Richard’s version depended on me denying every flaw.
Then one old argument would destroy credibility.
I had yelled.
Slammed a door.
Thrown one mug into a sink.
Stayed in a marriage too long.
None of that made cake assault acceptable.
May you like
None made me unfit.
Truth worked better without polish.
