Chapter 17 - The Divorce Proceedings
The mediation room was a sterile, cold environment. Beatriz sat on one side of the long mahogany table, flanked by Dr. Almeida and a team of three ruthless corporate litigators.
On the other side sat Rodrigo, looking hollowed out. He had aged five years in the span of a month. His cheap, state-appointed lawyer looked terrified simply to be in the same room as the Monteiro legal team.
"My client offers a full, uncontested divorce,"
Dr. Almeida stated, sliding a thick document across the table.
"In exchange, Mr. Silva will relinquish all parental rights to the child, Leonardo. He will sign non-disclosure agreements forbidding him from ever speaking of this marriage, and he will accept a one-time severance of fifty thousand dollars to settle his immediate debts before his bankruptcy filing."
Rodrigo stared at the paper.
"My son... I want to see my son."
Beatriz finally spoke, her voice cutting through the air like a scalpel.
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"You didn't want a son, Rodrigo. You wanted an accessory. You will sign the papers, or my forensic team will hand over the evidence of your corporate embezzlement to the federal prosecutor. You can choose to be a bankrupt divorcee, or you can choose to be a felon."
Rodrigo’s hands shook violently as he picked up the pen and signed his life away.
