I began to cry.
My father put his arm around me.
And for the first time, I allowed myself to grieve the marriage I had thought I was entering.
The legal proceedings were lengthy.
The financial investigation involved multiple companies, disputed transactions, and numerous witnesses.
Victor cooperated with investigators and provided records that helped establish how the arrangements had developed.
His own conduct was examined as well.
He was not treated as innocent simply because he had warned me.
That was important to me.
I did not want the truth simplified into a story about one good man and two bad people.
Victor had made choices.
Adrian had made choices.
Eleanor had made choices.
And those choices had consequences.
Eventually, Adrian and Eleanor faced criminal charges arising from the financial scheme.
The proceedings did not move quickly.
There were motions, hearings, document reviews, and negotiations.
But the evidence was substantial.
