Chapter 23 - THE FINANCIAL TRIAL
Preston rejected the final plea.
So the case went to trial months after Julian’s birth.
By then, the baby was four months old.
I had returned to work part-time.
Supervised visits with Preston had gone well.
No incidents.
The family-court evaluator recommended gradual expansion independent of criminal outcome, provided restrictions around Dorinda remained.
That complexity upset relatives.
They wanted one verdict to solve every relationship.
It could not.
The financial trial began with records.
Dad’s finance manager testified.
"Did Camille authorize pregnancy support?"
"Yes, generally."
"Did that include Preston submitting reimbursements?"
"For approved pregnancy and nursery costs."
"Did you independently verify each?"
"No."
Failure.
The family office tightened controls afterward.
Then the invoices.
Real vendors.
False project descriptions.
Then bank trails.
Business expenses.
Defense argued:
Temporary intercompany-style use.
Expectation of repayment.
No intent permanently to deprive.
Prosecution answered:
The money was obtained by false description before any repayment plan was disclosed.
Intent to repay can matter.
It does not automatically make deception lawful.
Then my signature.
Digital forensic expert confirmed the image matched a prior signature file used on legitimate documents.
Could the expert prove Preston personally inserted it?
No.
Metadata showed the final authorization was created on Preston’s account.
His assistant had no access at that time.
Still circumstantial.
Then emails.
Family liquidity.
May you like
Do not tell Camille before restored.
That was stronger.
