My Fiancé Forced His Pregnant Maid to Abort Her Child to Save His Career — But He Didn't Know I Was a Labor Rights Lawyer Recording Everything
The air in the sterile conference room was thick with tension, heavy enough to taste. It was the day of Julian Croft’s deposition, a pivotal moment in Isabella’s civil lawsuit.
I sat opposite Julian, my legal pads and documents meticulously arranged before me. Beside me sat Isabella, pale but resolute, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, a small, worn handkerchief clutched between her fingers. Maria, Isabella’s unwavering friend, sat quietly behind us, a steady, supportive presence.
Julian, flanked by Attorney Thomas Jensen, maintained a facade of cool arrogance. He wore a perfectly tailored suit, his hair impeccably styled, every inch the powerful corporate executive.
He shot me unsettling, gaslighting glances across the polished mahogany table, his eyes holding a familiar mix of contempt and feigned concern. It was his silent attempt to undermine my resolve, to make me doubt myself.
Arthur Croft, Julian’s father, sat at the far end of the table, his presence a palpable weight in the room. His expression was stern, unreadable, but I could feel his keen, assessing gaze shifting between Julian, me, and the pile of evidence before me. He was there to protect the family name, nothing more.
Jensen, Julian’s lawyer, began with a lengthy opening statement, repeating his earlier accusations of a frivolous lawsuit and a vindictive ex-fiancée. He painted Julian as a victim of a calculated smear campaign, a man unfairly targeted.
Julian himself answered questions with practiced nonchalance, his voice smooth and controlled. He denied everything: threatening Isabella, fabricating a theft report, or having any knowledge of her pregnancy. He even offered a smug smile when asked about the timing of his merger, implying my claims were a pathetic attempt to derail his success.
“Isabella Ruiz was a valued employee who resigned of her own accord,” Julian stated, his eyes flicking briefly to Isabella, a subtle smirk playing on his lips. “Her subsequent claims are, regrettably, the result of undue influence and a clear misunderstanding of company policy.”
His casual dismissal of her, the twisting of facts, the thinly veiled insults – it was classic Julian. The petty cruelty was still there, woven into his every word, meant to inflict maximum emotional damage.
Isabella flinched, her knuckles whitening as she gripped the handkerchief. I placed a reassuring hand on her arm, a silent promise of support.
My turn came. I began by methodically laying out my questions, starting with Julian’s relationship with Isabella, his knowledge of her employment terms, and his responsibilities as her employer. I could feel Julian’s growing impatience, his mask of composure beginning to crack around the edges.
He tried to deflect, to evade, to answer questions with questions. But I was prepared, pushing him gently, persistently, cornering him with specific dates and events.
“Mr. Croft,” I began, my voice clear and steady, “you stated you had no knowledge of Ms. Ruiz’s pregnancy. Is that correct?”
“That is correct, Ms. Reed,” he replied, his gaze unwavering. “Her personal medical situation was not privy to me, nor relevant to her employment.”
“And you deny threatening Ms. Ruiz regarding her employment, or her legal status in this country?” I continued, my eyes locked on his.
“Categorically, I deny any such claims,” he stated, a slight edge now entering his voice. “I am a fair employer, Ms. Reed. These are baseless accusations.”
He tried to lean back, a dismissive gesture, but I pressed forward. “You also deny ever showing Ms. Ruiz a document purporting to be a ‘theft report’ concerning her?”
Julian hesitated, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. He exchanged a quick glance with Jensen, who gave a minute shake of his head.
“I… I may have shown her a disciplinary notice,” Julian conceded, a slight variation in his tone. “Regarding certain infractions. But not a ‘theft report’ as you describe it.” He was shifting his story, trying to create wiggle room.
I felt Isabella tense beside me. Her breath hitched. The petty cruelty of his denial, his twisting of the truth, was deeply painful to her.
Arthur Croft shifted in his seat, his gaze sharpening. He was watching Julian closely now, a flicker of concern crossing his usually impassive face.
The room was silent, save for the soft click of the court reporter’s keyboard. The tension was palpable, a live wire running through the sterile space.
Julian thought he was in control, that his charm and his lawyers could talk his way out of anything. He believed he could continue to gaslight, to bend reality to his will.
But I had waited for this moment. And I had everything I needed to dismantle his carefully constructed lies, piece by agonizing piece.
My hand reached for the evidence folder, my fingers brushing against the cold, hard plastic. The climax was moments away.
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