Chapter 19 - DOMINIC ON TRIAL
The prosecution began with money.
Not Leo.
That surprised me.
Fake invoices.
Corporate expense reports.
Brooke’s LLC.
School payments.
Receipts.
Dana Cho testified carefully.
No:
Dominic stole everything.
Instead:
“This payment was represented as occupational therapy. It paid private kindergarten tuition for Liam Hayes.”
Then:
“This corporate travel expense was represented as client lodging. It paid Brooke Hayes’s hotel during a personal trip.”
Then:
“This $3,100 payment was invoiced as speech and behavioral coordination. No licensed provider received it.”
Documents.
Clean.
Defense:
Marriage.
Shared household.
Dominic believed he could allocate resources.
Some services genuine.
Brooke provided childcare occasionally.
Clara benefited from Dominic managing home.
True.
Then prosecutor:
“Does management authority permit false descriptions?”
Dana:
“That’s a legal question.”
Good.
Then Brooke.
She admitted.
Her credibility attacked due plea.
Yes.
She benefited.
Yes.
She lied.
Yes.
She wanted leniency.
Yes.
Then:
“Was Liam Dominic’s son?”
“Yes.”
“Did Clara know?”
“No.”
“Did Dominic tell you to hide?”
“Yes.”
Then the cruel scene.
“Did you call Leo a dog?”
She cried.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To hurt Clara.”
“Was Clara even in room when you began?”
“She had just arrived.”
“Did Leo hear?”
“Yes.”
No excuse.
Then child treatment.
Brooke testified she saw Victoria force floor rules.
Dominic sometimes objected.
Sometimes ignored.
Sometimes enforced.
One text:
DOMINIC:
No cake if he spends dinner under table.
BROOKE:
He’s under there because your mom screams.
DOMINIC:
Then he can come out.
BROOKE:
She told him not to.
DOMINIC:
I’m done fighting everyone.
There.
May you like
Not command abuse.
Abdication.
