Regulators and prosecutors would make their decisions independently; I could not buy clean hands with charitable donations.

My attorney had warned me repeatedly to prepare for substantial penalties and the possibility of criminal exposure.

I sold the waterfront house I had shared with Megan.

I didn’t tell the papers it was a sacrifice.

It had always felt more like a monument than a home.

I moved into a rented townhouse near the children’s new neighborhood, close enough to attend scheduled visits without turning every pickup into a grand arrival.

Elena took over more day-to-day responsibility at the company while independent directors supervised the remediation process.