Chapter 18 - Diane Under Oath
Diane was deposed in the divorce because Mark’s motivations around house transfer and family-business discussions became relevant to certain claims.
She hated every minute.
Question:
“Did you believe Meredith’s house should become jointly owned?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Mark lived there and contributed.”
Reasonable argument emotionally.
Then:
“Did you believe daughters should inherit the property?”
Diane paused.
“I believed Mark should have security first.”
“Why?”
“He is her husband.”
Then:
“Why did you write ‘girls will marry / name changes’?”
Long silence.
“Because that is what I was taught.”
“Did you believe property leaving the Sloan surname was a loss?”
“Yes.”
“Even if it passed to Mark’s daughters?”
She swallowed.
“Yes.”
There.
Then:
“Did you encourage Mark to have another child?”
“Yes.”
“A son?”
“Yes.”
“Did Meredith agree?”
“No.”
“Did you blame her?”
“Yes.”
Then the birthday.
“Why did you say ‘No son, no celebration’?”
Diane’s face changed.
“I was angry.”
“At whom?”
“Meredith.”
“Why strike Emma?”
“I shouldn’t have.”
“That’s not why.”
Long silence.
Then:
“Because she reached for the cake and I wanted the celebration to stop.”
There.
Not an accident.
Not loss of motor control.
A child’s joy had offended her argument.
Then:
“Did you believe Emma herself had done anything wrong by being born female?”
“No.”
The lawyer waited.
Diane cried.
May you like
“I acted like I did.”
That was the closest she got.
