Chapter 16 - Mrs. Clark TestifiesThe bank’s civil suit against Clark Residential continued despite Derek’s plea.
Mrs. Clark was deposed.
The lender’s lawyer asked:
“Did your son tell you the company needed only four hundred thousand dollars?”
“Yes.”
“Did you sign an instrument allowing borrowing up to 1.4 million?”
“Yes.”
“Did you read it?”
“Not carefully.”
“Why?”
“I trusted him.”
“Was that reasonable?”
Mrs. Clark paused.
“At the time, I believed it was.”
“Do you believe it now?”
“No.”
Then came the harder questions.
“Had Derek previously experienced financial problems?”
“Yes.”
“Had you previously covered losses for him?”
“Yes.”
“How many times?”
Mrs. Clark’s lawyer objected.
The question was narrowed.
She answered anyway.
“Several.”
The lender’s attorney asked:
“Did your repeated financial assistance make you less likely to scrutinize his requests?”
Mrs. Clark thought.
“Yes.”
That admission became part of the record.
She had not caused Derek's fraud.
But she had helped create an environment where he assumed family resources would remain available.
After the deposition, she drove to Amanda’s condo.
Leo opened the door with Amanda.
“Mrs. Clark.”
The formality hurt.
She smiled.
“Hello, Leo.”
He held a toy truck.
“Truck.”
“I see.”
Amanda invited her inside.
Mrs. Clark brought no gifts.
That was intentional.
She sat on the floor several feet from Leo.
He rolled the truck toward her.
She rolled it back.
No grand reconciliation.
Ten minutes of play.
Then Leo climbed onto the sofa.
Mrs. Clark’s body moved instantly.
Her hand lifted, ready to steady him.
Amanda noticed.
Leo sat safely.
Mrs. Clark lowered her hand.
Something in Amanda relaxed.
Not trust.
But possibility.
Later, they drank coffee.
“I testified,” Mrs. Clark said.
“How was it?”
“Humiliating.”
Amanda smiled faintly.
“Good?”
Mrs. Clark laughed.
“You and Derek’s attorney have similar ideas about emotional growth.”
Amanda’s expression softened.
Mrs. Clark continued.
“I admitted how often I rescued him.”
“That must have been difficult.”
“I kept wanting to explain.”
“What stopped you?”
“I realized explanations become excuses very quickly in my family.”
Amanda nodded.
Mrs. Clark looked toward Leo.
“Do you think I can ever be part of his life?”
Amanda took time.
“Maybe.”
Mrs. Clark’s eyes filled.
“Not because you’re Derek’s mother.”
“I know.”
“Because of what you do now.”
“I understand.”
Amanda continued.
“And if Leo doesn't want that later—”
“I accept it.”
Amanda studied her.
She believed the older woman was trying.
That did not erase the hospital.
What did you do to my son?
Those words still lived in Amanda.
But perhaps the purpose of memory was not permanent punishment.
Perhaps it was evidence against repeating the pattern.
Meanwhile, Rosa received a subpoena for Derek’s sentencing.
The prosecution wanted her to describe his behavior in the household as context for the broader pattern of entitlement and concealment.
Derek’s attorney objected.
The judge limited what could be considered.
Leo's fall was not part of the federal fraud conviction.
That mattered.
Courts should not punish one offense by smuggling in unrelated moral outrage.
Still, certain statements about the day were relevant to timing because the lender meeting and requested signing were scheduled then.
The video would not become a dramatic sentencing centerpiece.
Amanda appreciated that.
Leo was not evidence for every bad thing Derek had done.
He was a child.
His trauma belonged first to him.
When reporters later requested the footage through legal channels, Amanda fought release.
Her attorney succeeded in keeping it out of public circulation.
“Why?” Mrs. Clark asked.
“It would hurt Derek.”
Amanda looked at her.
“No.”
“It would humiliate him.”
“That isn't why.”
“Then?”
Amanda’s answer was immediate.
“Because Leo’s worst day is not public entertainment.”
Mrs. Clark lowered her eyes.
Again, Amanda’s priority was Leo.
Not revenge.
Derek eventually learned about her effort to keep the footage private.
For the first time, he understood the difference between protecting someone and hiding what they did.
Amanda had protected Leo’s dignity.
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She had not protected Derek from consequences.
Those were not the same thing.
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