Chapter 2 - The Golden HandcuffsWithin forty-eight hours, Ethan was out on a two-million-dollar bail, backed by his family’s army of corporate lawyers. Outside the precinct, Ethan adjusted his designer suit, sneered at the flashing cameras, and dismissed the incident as a "pitiable domestic dispute orchestrated by an opportunistic father-in-law."
What the public didn't know—and what Ethan had kept carefully hidden—was that six months prior, Ethan had manipulated Maya into a secret registry marriage in a remote jurisdiction. He had used her isolation and trust to link their assets.
The strategy became clear during a secret strategy meeting between Ethan and his lead defense attorney, Arthur Vance (his uncle).
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"We don't just fight the assault charge, Ethan," Arthur stated coldly. "Under marital property laws, you have equal rights to her trust fund, her estate, and her corporate shares. If we push for spousal privilege, she can't be forced to testify against you in court. We lock her down legally before her father can pull her away."
Ethan smiled wickedly. "Do it. Make her look unstable. Let’s see how tough her old man is when the courts strip him of his rights."
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