Chapter 12 - THE PLEA
Carmen accepted a negotiated plea for assault.
The ballroom witnesses and partial videos made factual denial difficult.
Consequences were proportional.
A short custodial component was possible depending on local law and imposed modestly.
Probation.
Anger-management intervention.
No-contact order with Sofia.
Restitution for direct medical and property damage.
No life-destroying fantasy.
At sentencing Carmen said:
“I was humiliated.”
The judge asked:
“By what?”
“That she let me speak to her like that when she knew who her father was.”
The courtroom went silent.
Sofia almost laughed.
Even now Carmen thought Sofia’s power created a duty to reveal itself.
The judge said:
“She had no obligation to present a résumé before you decided whether to treat her with dignity.”
Carmen looked away.
Then Sofia gave a short statement.
“I do not want harsher punishment because Adrian is my father.”
Adrian watched from the back.
“I want the same consequence there would be if I had no powerful family at all.”
That was the point.
Then:
“You thought I deserved less protection because you thought I had less status.”
Pause.
“The law should not repeat your mistake in reverse.”
Even Carmen looked at her then.
Afterward Adrian said:
“I’m proud of you.”
Sofia answered:
“Don’t make it weird.”
May you like
He laughed.
For the first time since the wedding, she did too.
