Chapter 12 - JESSICA’S STATEMENT
Jessica corrected her affidavit before prosecutors charged her with perjury.
That did not automatically erase exposure.
It helped.
Her amended statement said:
My earlier affidavit omitted that the comment I attributed to the mother concerned pre-marital debt, not paternity.
I signed after Margaret told me the distinction did not matter.
It did matter.
Jessica also admitted seeing Lily outside.
“I should have untied her.”
“Why didn’t you?” Maya asked during civil deposition.
“I was afraid Mom would treat it as taking Mark’s side.”
“Was a five-year-old’s restraint a side?”
“No.”
“Then what were you choosing?”
“My mother.”
Specific.
Jessica withdrew support for the events sale until independent valuation.
That cost her politically.
It did not make her heroic.
She was protecting herself too.
Her children remained beneficiaries.
No punishment through their trust interests.
May you like
Children did not lose rights because adults behaved badly.
That principle mattered to me more once Lily was protected.
