Chapter 6
Rebecca reviewed Serena’s communications with civil attorneys.
Not privileged material improperly seized.
Billing records, disclosed correspondence, and documents Serena herself relied upon in asserting claims.
Serena had consulted a civil litigator six weeks before the wedding.
The subject line:
Personal safety and relationship exit planning.
Victor’s first reaction was anger.
Then Rebecca stopped him.
“People are allowed to consult lawyers.”
“I know.”
“You having a temper makes that especially reasonable.”
“I know.”
The lawyer’s notes described three incidents Serena reported.
Victor shouting during an argument over household security.
Victor slamming an office door after a business call.
Victor punching a wall in his private gym after learning an associate had died.
All three happened.
None involved Serena physically.
None were behavior Victor felt proud of.
Serena apparently told the lawyer she worried the anger might someday turn toward her.
That concern was not absurd.
Then the lawyer asked whether Serena wanted help leaving.
Serena said no.
She intended to marry Victor.
What she wanted was to understand what documentation would matter “if a future incident occurred.”
Again, potentially reasonable.
Then came an unusual question:
Would private video of physical aggression materially strengthen a civil claim if the aggressor admits the underlying conflict?
The lawyer answered generally.
Yes, authentic footage could matter.
Then added:
Do not provoke, stage, or manufacture an incident. If you feel unsafe, leave.
Victor read that line several times.
“She was warned.”
Rebecca corrected him.
“Warned not to manufacture an incident. We still do not know that she did.”
Victor nodded.
Another document showed Serena purchased additional personal legal-expense insurance shortly afterward.
Again, not proof.
Wealthy people bought insurance.
Brides under stress hired lawyers.
But it was clue number two.
Serena had been thinking about the legal value of recorded physical aggression weeks before installing a continuously recording bridal-suite camera.
Rebecca then interviewed the wedding stylist.
She remembered Serena making a strange comment three days before the ceremony.
“Victor always walks away when he’s angry.”
“What was strange about that?” Rebecca asked.
The stylist answered:
“Serena sounded annoyed.”
“Exact words?”
“She said, ‘He’s gotten too good at leaving the room.’”
Victor heard about the statement that evening.
He sat alone for a long time.
Therapy had taught him to leave rooms when anger rose.
Serena used to praise him for it.
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Apparently, near the wedding, she had started resenting the same habit.
Why?
