Chapter 18 - OCTAVIA’S CIVIL DEFENSE
Octavia argued the payment agreement gave her broad discretion.
Some clauses supported limited discretion.
Not enough for what she did.
She could adjust certain nonessential benefits.
She could not fabricate paternity results.
Could not send false letters.
Could not condition basic promised support on silence about lawful parentage.
Then money.
Her lawyers argued the broader family reserve benefited multiple branches and commingling had always been permitted.
True.
That weakened any simplistic theft claim.
So Maeve’s civil case focused on:
Fraudulent inducement.
Breach of agreement.
Interference with parentage rights.
Misrepresentation.
Accounting and restitution.
Not:
Octavia stole two million dollars.
She did not.
The number was contractual ceiling.
Again.
Precision.
Then settlement talks.
Octavia offered to pay the calculated shortfall and legal fees if Maeve dismissed emotional-distress claims.
Maeve did not answer immediately.
She wanted an acknowledgment.
Not public apology.
A factual clause:
Octavia admits the paternity report and Luciano acknowledgment were false and were used to prevent direct communication.
Octavia refused.
May you like
Settlement failed.
At least for then.
