Chapter 21 - The OfferNia's attorneys proposed a plea agreement.
She would plead guilty to felony child endangerment, financial fraud, identity-related forgery, and evidence tampering.
The prosecution would dismiss several lesser counts and would not pursue the most difficult attempted-homicide theory.
There would be incarceration.
Restitution.
A long-term protective order.
No contact with Ava.
The financial convictions would also strengthen Darius's divorce case and eliminate any realistic claim Nia could make against the assets she attempted to obtain through fraud.
Darius hated the word "agreement."
Nothing about what happened felt mutual.
The prosecutor explained.
"If we go to trial on every count, she could be acquitted on some. Ava may eventually become an issue in the litigation. Emily would testify. Malik would testify. The photographs would be shown repeatedly."
Darius looked at the table.
"And the plea?"
"She admits the pool act was deliberate."
"Not an accident?"
"Not an accident."
"She admits the camera?"
"Yes."
"The fraud?"
"Yes."
"The false dog report?"
"As part of the evidence-tampering scheme."
Darius exhaled.
"What about Rex?"
The prosecutor blinked.
"What about him?"
"Her story started with blaming Rex."
"The factual statement will specify that Rex rescued Ava."
Darius nodded.
That mattered.
More than he expected.
Grace asked him privately whether he supported the agreement.
"It's not my decision."
"No."
"But they care what you think."
Darius considered.
Months earlier, he would have demanded the harshest possible outcome because anger felt like action.
Now he asked a different question.
"What protects Ava best?"
Grace answered, "Finality helps."
"Then I support it."
Nia entered her plea three weeks later.
The courtroom was quieter than Darius expected.
The judge asked her questions.
Did she understand the rights she was waiving?
Yes.
Was anyone forcing her?
No.
Did she knowingly disable the pool surveillance system?
Yes.
Did she intentionally push Ava Carter into the pool?
Silence.
Nia looked toward her attorney.
Then toward Darius.
He did not react.
Finally:
"Yes."
Darius closed his eyes.
The word was small.
Years of lies had taken thousands of words.
Truth required one.
The prosecutor read the factual basis.
Nia knew Ava could not swim independently.
Nia disabled surveillance.
Nia pushed Ava.
Rex entered the pool and removed Ava by gripping her clothing.
Nia later participated in efforts to blame Rex and discredit witnesses.
Darius heard Rex's name read into the official record.
He thought about the command he had shouted.
Put him down right now.
His stomach tightened.
The judge accepted the plea.
Sentencing would occur later.
Outside the courthouse, reporters gathered again.
Darius walked past them.
One shouted, "Mr. Carter, do you forgive your wife?"
Darius stopped.
Grace looked concerned.
He turned toward the reporter.
"This isn't about my forgiveness."
Then he walked away.
At home, Ava was playing on the floor.
She looked up.
"Daddy."
He knelt.
She ran into him.
Rex arrived next, pressing against them both.
Darius wrapped one arm around Ava and the other around the dog.
Emily watched from the doorway.
Malik pretended to be occupied with a vase.
Darius whispered into Rex's fur, "Your name is clear."
Ava giggled.
"Rex name Rex."
Darius laughed.
"Yeah."
He kissed the top of her head.
"Exactly."
But one conflict remained.
The money.
Hundreds of thousands stolen.
Millions attempted.
Victor and Caleb still faced charges.
And the estate Nia tried to reach remained structured around a clause that had nearly turned Ava into a financial contingency.
May you like
Grace intended to change that.
So did Darius.
