His “business partner” formally pleaded guilty to racketeering and surrendered decades of laundering records to save himself.

The psychiatrist who had falsified my medical history was stripped of his license and indicted for medical fraud.

But the most spectacular implosion came when Vivian foolishly demanded to take the stand in her own defense.

“I am a mother!” she wailed to the jury, tears streaming down her face. “I only wanted to instill a little traditional discipline in a chaotic household!”

Prosecutor Jenkins approached the stand, her eyes cold.

“Because the evening roast was nineteen minutes late, Mrs. Mercer?”