I loved his money, his lifestyle, his status. He gave me everything I asked for. Expensive clothes, jewelry, cars, trips to beautiful places.
But it was never enough. I always wanted more. Monica’s voice cracked but she continued.
About two years ago I met a man named Elijah Morrison at a business event. We started talking. Then we started meeting secretly.
We had an affair. For two years I betrayed my husband with this man. Desmond sat still in his chair listening.
Hearing her say it out loud, finally admitting the truth, felt both painful and freeing. Last year Elijah and I started planning how to be together. We wanted to run away with Desmond’s money.
But we couldn’t just leave. Desmond would have found us. We needed him.
We needed him to be gone permanently. The courtroom gasped. Even though everyone already knew this part, hearing Monica admit it was shocking.
So I found a mechanic named Tony Miller. I paid him ten thousand dollars to sabotage my husband’s car. I asked him to cut the brake lines in a way that would make them fail after about two hours of driving.
I wanted it to look like an accident. I wanted Desmond to crash and die on the highway. A few people in the courtroom made sounds of disgust.
Monica’s lawyer looked uncomfortable. But Desmond didn’t die, Monica continued, her voice shaking more now. Instead he faked his own death to test me.
And I failed that test in every possible way. She finally looked up at Desmond. Tears were streaming down her face.
When I heard that Desmond had died in a car accident, I wasn’t sad. I was happy. I celebrated.
I called Elijah and told him we had won. I started planning how to steal all of Desmond’s money. I brought Elijah into our home, into our bedroom.
I threw an engagement party 40 days after the funeral, using Desmond’s money to pay for it. Monica’s voice broke completely now. She was sobbing.
I am a terrible person. I tried to murder the man who loved me. The man who gave me everything.
And I don’t have any good excuse. I was greedy. I was selfish.
I was cruel. And I’m so, so sorry. She looked at Desmond again.
Desmond, I know you’ll never forgive me. I don’t deserve forgiveness. But I want you to know, what I did to you will haunt me for the rest of my life.
You deserved so much better than me. Monica sat down, covering her face with her hands, crying. Judge Miller waited a moment, then spoke.
Mrs. Adams, thank you for your confession. This court accepts your guilty plea. You will be sentenced to five years in prison, followed by five years of probation.
You will also pay restitution to Mr. Adams in the amount of $500,000 for emotional damages. Do you understand? Yes, your honor, Monica whispered. Good.
Court is adjourned. The judge banged her gavel and it was done. Officers led Monica out of the courtroom.
She looked back at Desmond one last time, her eyes red and swollen from crying. Desmond watched her go and felt nothing. Not anger…
