You reply quietly, "I've never laid a hand on him."\n\nCharles' lawyer slides pictures of him with a bruised and battered face across the table towards you, "Then how do you explain these, Mrs. Carter?"\n\n"Those bruises are from his online tramps."\n\n"Online tramps?"\n\nYou break your attention from the picture in your lap and look directly in the lawyer's eyes. "Women he solicited from my website, Illicit Affairs!"\n\nHis lawyer seems undaunted, " Those are some pretty serious accusatios, Mrs. Carter. Do you have proof?" You hang your head knowing you don't. "Because we have proof of his abuse." He taps the pictures of your battered husband.\n<<if $reflect > 0>>\n[[Deny|DenyV2]]\n[[Admit|AdmitV]]\n<<else>>\n<<choice [[Deny|DenyV2]]>>\n<<choice [[Admit|AdmitV]]>>\n<<choice [[Examine the picture in your lap|ReflectV]]>>\n<<endif>>

You reply quietly, "I've never laid a hand on her."\n\nPrudence's lawyer slides pictures of her with a bruised and battered face across the table towards you, "Then how do you explain these, Mr. Ardent?"\n\n"Those bruises are from her lovers."\n\n"Lovers?"\n\nYou break your attention from the picture in your lap and look directly in the lawyer's eyes. "Lovers she solicited from my website, Illicit Affairs!"\n\nHer lawyer seems undaunted, "Those are some pretty serious accusations, Mr. Ardent. Do you have an proof?" You hang your head knowing you don't. "Because we have proof of her abuse." He taps the pictures of your battered wife. \n<<if $reflect > 0>>\n[[Deny|DenyR2]]\n[[Admit|AdmitR]]\n<<else>>\n<<choice [[Deny|DenyR2]]>>\n<<choice [[Admit|AdmitR]]>>\n<<choice [[Examine the picture in your lap|ReflectR]]>>\n<<endif>>

<<set $reflect = 0>>\nYou are sitting in the conference room of a law office. Beside you is your attorney. Across from you is your soon-to-be ex-wife, Prudence. You are in the middle of divorce proceedings. Your wife has accused you of spousal abuse. You are accusing her of infidelity. \n\nYou sit quietly looking down at a wallet-sized picture in your lap as Prudence's lawyer speaks. "Your wife is accusing you of spousal abuse, Mr. Ardent. Do you deny these charges?" \n\n<<choice [[Deny the accusastions|DenyR]]>>\n<<choice [[Admit the abuse|AdmitR]]>>\n<<choice [[Examine the picture|ReflectR]]>>

How To Take It With You

You slurp down the rest of your Mai Tai, pull down your sunglasses, and lean back in your lounge chair enjoying the suns warmth. With your eyes closed, you can feel someone blocking your sun, "That was fast." \n\nYou hear your husbands's voice reply, "Not nearly fast enough."\n\nShocked, you rip off your sunglasses to see him standing in front of you with a gun pointed at your face, "What the--? How did you find me?"\n\n"Richard was nice enough to drag you to a secluded location where I could kill you and no one would ever find out," he replies with a look of hatred in his eyes.\n\n"That's just crazy talk! You'll never get away with it!"\n\n"Everyone already thinks you're dead. Can't arrest me for killing someone who's already dead."\n\nBANG! \n\nA bullet right between your eyes ends your days. \n\nTHE END.

You decide to let your lawyer defend you as best he can. He proves to the jury that your husband had several affairs during the length of your marriage. He is found guilty of infidelity, but the jury still finds you guilty of spousal abuse. \n\nYou are sentenced to 5 years probation and anger management counseling. Your assets are split evenly, leaving plenty of money for you to retire to Aruba after your probationary period is over.\n\nYou live out the remainder of your days comfortably on the beaches of Aruba. You marry a native man and live a simple, happy life. \n\nTHE END

You are a multi-millionaire. You've earned your fortune by creating a website, Illicit Affairs, in which married couples can seek out companionship from others, and secretly get what they aren't getting at home. \n\nThe company epxloded onto the dotcom scene and made millions with in its first year. Unfortunately, you suspect your spouse has been using it to have secret love affairs and is currently charging you with spousal abuse. Your entire fourtune is at stake. \n\nChoose your character:\n\n<<choice [[Richard]]>>\n<<choice [[Vera]]>>

"Yes, I admit it! I beat my husband! But he deserved it!" You shout at the lawyer. \n\nYour lawyer interjects, "Don't say anything more, Vera!" \n\nYou look at your lawyer in disgust, "He's been having affairs with other women that he met from my website! I created Illicit Affairs and made a fortune from it while he was using it to cheat on me!"\n\nYour lawyer, accepting defeat, sits back and shakes his head. You can tell he is disgusted with you.\n\nCharles' lawyer attempts to hold back a smirk, "That seems rather ironic, doesn't it, Mrs. Carter?" You glare at him as he slides pictures in front of you. "There is plenty of proof of your abuse, Mrs. Carter, but I'm afraid we have no proof of your wife's infidelities." Charles' lawyer looks at your lawyer, "We agree to settle if your client agrees to counseling." \n\nYour lawyer speaks for you as slump back in your chair, "Not a chance. We've got a subponea to search Mr. Carter's computer. If fact, the police are at his residence seizing it now. We'll see how this plays out in court."\n\n\nA look of fear crosses your husband's face. He leans of over whispers in his lawyer's ear.\n\nONE WEEK LATER\n\nYou sit in the courtroom listening to you husband recount scenes of your abuse. You watch the jury's eyes as they scan you judgementally. Now it's your turn to speak.\n\n<<choice [[Take the stand|StandV]]>>\n<<choice [[Let your lawyer defend you|LawyerV]]>>\n

You slurp down the rest of your Mai Tai, pull down your sunglasses, and lean back in your lounge chair enjoying the suns warmth. With your eyes closed, you can feel someone blocking your sun, "That was fast." \n\nYou hear your wife's voice reply, "Not nearly fast enough."\n\nShocked, you rip off your sunglasses to see her standing in front of you with a gun pointed at your face, "What the--? How did you find me?"\n\n"Vera was nice enough to drag you to a secluded location where I could kill you and no one would ever find out," she replies with a look of hatred in her eyes.\n\n"That's just crazy talk! You'll never get away with it!"\n\n"Everyone already thinks you're dead. Can't arrest me for killing someone who's already dead."\n\nBANG! \n\nA bullet right between your eyes ends your days. \n\nTHE END.

You decide to let your lawyer defend you as best he can. He proves to the jury that your wife had several affairs during the length of your marriage. She is found guilty of infidelity, but the jury still finds you guilty of spousal abuse. \n\nYou are sentenced to 5 years probation and anger management counseling. Your assets are split evenly, leaving plenty of money for you to retire to Aruba after your probationary period is over.\n\nYou live out the remainder of your days comfortably on the beaches of Aruba. You marry a native woman and live a simple, happy life. \n\nTHE END

You hesitantly grab the book. It's cover feels worn and well read as if numerous hands have soaked in its knowledge. You peak over the edge of the book at the man as you crack it open. He grins at you the same smile as before, haunting you with its charm. You look down to examine the book. The first page reads "How To Take It With You." \n\n"Is there something I can give you in return?" you ask him as you look up, but his grinning face is gone. He seems to have just vanished. You look up and down the sidewalk, not finding a trace of him on the streets. Puzzled by the experience, you tuck the book under your arm and walk home.\n\nYou enter the front door of your apartment with the book in hand. You walk to the kitchen, pour a glass of wine, and head back to the living room where you sit down on the couch. You sip the wine and open the book. You thumb through the first couple of pages before you come to any text, then you read: "This book explains step by step how to 'disappear' and keep your fortune. You must follow each step precisely. Once you've completed each step, you must then pass this book discreetly on to the next troubled soul." \n\n"How the hell am I supposed to know who the next troubled soul is?" you ask yourself. \n\n<<choice [[Continue reading the book|ReadV]]>>\n<<choice [[Dismiss the book|DismissV]]>>

There's something about his tone that you just don't trust. "Listen, I appreciate all your help so far, but I think I'm gonna just follow what the book says. I'd feel more comfortable doing this on my own." \n\n"Seriously? You screwed ME over and now YOU don't trust ME?"\n\nRichard turns and walks away calling over her shoulder, "Good luck, bitch!" \n\nFeeling a little guilty, you climb into your sports car and place your money in the back seat. Hearing sirens, you look up through the back window to see several police cars headed your way. You quickly turn forward and reach for your keys, but there are police cars on every side of you. \n\nEvidently the bank president was a little suspicicious of you emptying your bank account. It also didn't hurt that your husband had already notified him earlier and told him to let him know if you withdrew any money. \n\nYou spend the next ten years in jail. When you are finally released, you are left penniless and without a home. You live homeless on the streets until you die a virtual unknown.\n\nTHE END.

You hesitantly grab the book. It's cover feels worn and well read as if numerous hands have soaked in its knowledge. You peak over the edge of the book at the woman as you crack it open. She grins at you with the same smile as before, haunting you with its charm. You look down to examine the book. The first page reads "How To Take It With You." \n\n"Is there something I can give you in return?" you ask her as\nyou look up, but her grinning face is gone. She seems to have just vanished. You look up and down the sidewalk, not finding a trace of her on the streets. Puzzled by the experience, you tuck the book under your arm and walk home.\n\nYou enter the front door of your apartment with the book in hand. You walk to the fridge, grab a beer, and head back to the living room where you sit down on the couch. You crack open the beer and the book. You thumb through the first couple of pages before you come to any text, then you read: "This book explains step by step how to 'disappear' and keep your fortune. You must follow each step precisely. Once you've completed each step, you must then pass this book discreetly on to the next troubled soul." \n\n"How the hell am I supposed to know who the next troubled soul is?" you ask yourself.\n\n<<choice [[Continue reading the book|ReadR]]>>\n<<choice [[Dismiss the book|DismissR]]>>

You walk with Richard as he explains to you in detail what you must do from here on out. Richard contniues to talk as you approach your car, "Give me $100,000, your driver's license, and your car. Take a cab to the airport, get on the next flight to Madagascar, and I'll meet you there when everything is done." You open the trunk and place your money inside. \n\nYou again express your remorse, "Richard. I really am sorry--"\n\nHe cuts you off, "Forget it. Everyone gets what they deserve in the end." \n\nONE WEEK LATER:\n\nYou and Richard are sitting in louge chairs on the beach, sipping Mai Tais. As you stare off into the sunset, you talk to Richard, "You know, if someone woulda told me a month ago that I'd be sittin' on a beach in Madagascar sippin' Mai Tais you, I would have told them they were crazy."\n\nRichard smiles at you, "I had a feeling after I had to fake my death to get away from my wife that you'd need to do the same to get away from Charles. I hated that I couldn't tell you what he was up to."\n\n"I had my suspicion-- Wait, you mean you knew?"\n\n"I've been watching you a long time, Vera." Richard slurps the last of his Mai Tai, "I need another drink. You want one?"\n\n<<choice [[Yes, I'd love another|DrinksV2]]>>\n<<choice [[I'll go|DrinksV]]>>

You walk with Vera as she explains to you in detail what you must do from here on out. Vera contniues to talk as you approach your car, "Give me $100,000, your driver's license, and your car. Take a cab to the airport, get on the next flight to Madagascar, and I'll meet you there when everything is done." You open the trunk and place your money inside. \n\nYou again express your remorse, "Vera. I really am sorry--"\n\nShe cuts you off, "Forget it. Everyone gets what they deserve in the end." \n\nONE WEEK LATER:\n\nYou and Vera are sitting in louge chairs on the beach, sipping Mai Tais. As you stare off into the sunset, you talk to Vera, "You know, if someone woulda told me a month ago that I'd be sittin' on a beach in Madagascar sippin' Mai Tais with you, I woulda told them they were crazy."\n\nVera smiles at you, "I had a feeling after I had to fake my death to get away from my husband that you'd need to do the same to get away from Prudence. I hated that I couldn't tell you what she was up to."\n\n"I had my suspicion-- Wait, you mean you knew?"\n\n"I've been watching you a long time, Richard." Vera slurps the last of her Mai Tai, "I need another drink. You want one?"\n\n<<choice [[Yes, I'd love another|Drinks2]]>>\n<<choice [[I'll go|Drinks]]>>

<<set $reflect = 0>>\nYou are sitting in the conference room of a law office. Beside you is your attorney. Across from you is your soon-to-be ex-husband, Charles. You are in the middle of divorce proceedings. Your husband has accused you of spousal abuse. You are accusing him of infidelity. \n\nYou sit quietly looking down at a wallet-sized picture in your lap as Charles' lawyer speaks. "Your husband is accusing you of spousal abuse, Mrs. Carter. Do you deny these charges?" \n\n<<choice [[Deny the accusastions|DenyV]]>>\n<<choice [[Admit the abuse|AdmitV]]>>\n<<choice [[Examine the picture|ReflectV]]>>

You trust your gut feeling and run to Richard and tell him about seeing Charles. Richard tells you to calm down. He takes you by the hand and leads you back to your room. Together you slowly pack your bags and wait until nightfall. While you wait, Richard spends about two hours on the phone.\n\nAround midnight Richard leads you to the docks. There is a large boat waiting. You get on and together you sail in the moonlight to another island. You arrive the next morning. The island is secluded with a single hut near the edge of the water.\n\nA month passes. You have facial reconstruction to change your appearance. Richard had a new identity made for you. It's now safe to leave the island. You move to Europe where you and Richard live happily ever after!\n\nTHE END.

There's something about her tone that you just don't trust. "Listen, I appreciate all your help so far, but I think I'm gonna just follow what the book says. I'd feel more comfortable doing this on my own." \n\n"Seriously, Dick? You screwed ME over and now YOU don't trust ME?"\n\nVera turns and walks away calling over her shoulder, "Good luck, asshole!" \n\nFeeling a little guilty, you climb into your sports car and place your money in the back seat. Hearing sirens, you look up through the back window to see several police cars headed your way. You quickly turn forward and reach for your keys, but there are police cars on every side of you. \n\nEvidently the bank president was a little suspicicious of you emptying your bank account. It also didn't hurt that your wife notified him earlier and told him to let her know if you withdrew any money. \n\nYou spend the next ten years in jail. When you are finally released, you are left penniless and without a home. You live homeless on the streets until you die a virtual unknown.\n\nTHE END.

You emphatically deny ever having laid a hand on your husband. You stand, proclaiming your innocence. Charles retorts, "She's lying! You can't let her get away with this!" He fights back tears. \n\nIrritated, you storm out of the office. His lawyer calls after you as you explode through the door, "We're not done here, Mrs. Carter.\n\nYou shoot back over your shoulder, "I'm more than done!" \n\nYou burst through the front doors of the law offices and onto the sidewalk. As you Stand outside, you notice dark clouds begin to roll in. "Divorce. Is this what it's come to?" you ask yourself aloud. The words bounce around in your skull, mixing with the sum of your anxiety and a handful of poor choices. You look up at the sky hoping that the clouds will give some sort of clue to your future. Instead, raindrops tap and sting your face.\n\t\n"Perhaps if we never started the website, things would have been better," you continue to talk to yourself. You bow your head, hoping that no one noticed, but secretly wishing someone had the answers. It isn't enough that your husband is accusing you of something you couldn't possibly even think of doing, but your husband is trying to strip everything from your life. Even if you still love him, it doesn't matter much at this point. Lines have been crossed.\n\t\nBut what's left for you to do? Do you face it head on? Or is there something else you can do? "I can't believe this. The damn nerve thinking that h--"\n\t\nA man wrapped in tattered, dirty clothes interrupts the converastion you're having with yourself, "You look like you could use some help." His face is humble with a warmth that eases the chill on your skin. The way he holds himself touches something in your subconscious, as if pulling on a faded memory. You can't place it, but something about this man feels familiar. His face hides youth underneath its hood along with smudges of dirt, yet something is faintly familiar about him. That wiry smile sticks in your eyes.\n\t\nThe man digs out a book from a grocery bag on his arm. He holds it out to you. The book, less than an inch thick, offers no markings on its ruby red cover. "I think this book might help you," he says. "I'm sure that it'll give you all the answers you need. It can help get you out of your current predicament so you can keep what is important to you."\n\n<<choice [[Take the book|TakeV]]>>\n<<choice [[Decline the book|DeclineV]]>>

You emphatically deny ever having laid a hand on your wife. You stand, proclaiming your innocence. Prudence retorts, "He's lying! You can't let him get away with this!" She breaks down into tears. \n\nIrritated, you storm out of the office. Her lawyer calls after you as you explode through the door, "We're not done here, Mr. Ardent." \n\nYou shoot back over your shoulder, "I'm more than done!" \n\nYou burst through the front doors of the law offices and onto the sidewalk. As you Stand outside, you notice dark clouds begin to roll in. "Divorce. Is this what it's come to?" you ask yourself aloud. The words bounce around in your skull, mixing with the sum of your anxiety and a handful of poor choices. You look up at the sky hoping that the clouds will give some sort of clue to your future. Instead, raindrops tap and sting your face.\n\t\n"Perhaps if we never started the website, things would have been better," you continue to talk to yourself. You bow your head, hoping that no one noticed, but secretly wishing someone had the answers. It isn't enough that your wife is accusing you of something you couldn't possibly even think of doing, but your wife is trying to strip everything from your life. Even if you still love her, it doesn't matter much at this point. Lines have been crossed.\n\t\nBut what's left for you to do? Do you face it head on? Or is there something else you can do? "I can't believe this. The damn nerve thinking that h--"\n\t\nA woman wrapped in tattered, dirty clothes interrupts the converastion you're having with yourself, "You look like you could use some help." Her face is humble with a warmth that eases the chill on your skin. The way she holds herself touches something in your subconscious, as if pulling on a faded memory. You can't place it, but something about this woman feels familiar. Her face hides youth underneath its hood along with smudges of dirt, yet there's something is faintly familiar about her. That wiry smile sticks in your eyes.\n\t\nThe woman digs out a book from a grocery bag on her arm. She holds it out to you. The book, less than an inch thick, offers no markings on its ruby red cover. "I think this book might help you," she says. "I'm sure that it'll give you all the answers you need. It can help you get out of your current predicament so you can keep what is important to you."\n\n<<choice [[Take the book|TakeR]]>>\n<<choice [[Decline the book|DeclineR]]>>

<<set $reflect = $reflect +1>>\nYou look at the picture in your lap remembering the moment it was taken. It's a picture of you, your husband Charles, and your business partner Richard who died shortly thereafter, when his car mysteriously plunged into the Genesee River. It still gives you shivers. You are sitting on a couch in the lobby of your business, Illicit Affairs, as you're being interviewed by Fortune Magazine. Cameras are flashing as they snap pictures of the three of you. Across the wall behind you in large metal letters are the words Illicit Affairs.\n\nA reporter holds a microphone as she speaks to you, "What made you create a website for married people to cheat?"\n\nYou are more than prepared to answer this question, "It's not so much a website for married people to cheat as it is a tool to help them keep their marriage together. Lots of married couples are unhappy. For one reason or another, they aren't intimate with each other. My website allows couples to find the intamcy their marriages are missing."\n\nThe reporter looks at you in shock, "So you believe it's perfectly acceptable for your spouse to seek sexual gratification outside of the the marriage?"\n\n"It doesn't have be sex. Sex isn't always what's missing," you respond.\n\n"So you woldn't consider it cheating if your husband were to find intamacy, even non-sexual intamacy, with another woman?"\n\n"Not at all."\n\nLooking at you in disbelief, the reporter abandons that line of questioning, "So how are you going to handle your new found success?"\n\n"This is way more money than I need. I plan on donating a large portion of it to charity." Charles glares at you as if he does not approve of your decision. You catch his look and quickly kiss him, "Right after we get married and take a long, extended honeymoon to Madagascar." You smile and look at Charles for approval. He appears to be mildly satiated. \n\nYour focus returns back the conference room. Charles' lawyer reiterates his last question to you, "Do you deny these accusations?"\n\n<<choice [[Deny|DenyV]]>>\n<<choice [[Admit|AdmitV]]>>

<<set $reflect = $reflect +1>>\nYou look at the picture in your lap remembering the moment it was taken. It's a picture of you, your wife Prudence, and your business partner Vera who died shortly thereafter, when her car mysteriously plunged into the Genesee River. It still gives you shivers. You are sitting on a couch in the lobby of your business, Illicit Affairs, as you're being interviewed by Fortune Magazine. Cameras are flashing as they snap pictures of the three of you. Across the wall behind you in large metal letters are the words Illicit Affairs.\n\nA reporter holds a microphone as she speaks to you, "What made you create a website for married couples to cheat?"\n\nYou are more than prepared to answer this question, "It's not so much a website for married couples to cheat as it is a tool to help them keep their marriage together. Lots of married couples are unhappy. For one reason or another, they aren't intimate with each other. My website allows couples to find the intamcy their marriages are missing."\n\nThe reporter looks at you in shock, "So you believe it's perfectly acceptable for your spouse to seek sexual gratification outside of the the marriage?"\n\n"It doesn't have be sex. Sex isn't always what's missing," you respond.\n\n"So you woldn't consider it cheating if your wife were to find intamacy, even non-sexual intamacy, with another man?"\n\n"Not at all."\n\nLooking at you in disbelief, the reporter abandons that line of questioning, "So how are you going to handle your new found success?"\n\n"This is way more money than I need. I plan on donating a large portion of it to charity," you reply. Prudence glares at you as if she does not approve of your decision. You catch her look and quickly kiss her, "Right after we get married and take a long, extended honeymoon to Madagascar." You smile and look at Prudence for approval. She appears to be mildly satiated. \n\nYour focus returns back the conference room. Prudence's lawyer reiterates his last question to you, "Do you deny these accusations?"\n\n<<choice [[Deny|DenyR]]>>\n<<choice [[Admit|AdmitR]]>>

You take the stand to defend yourself. Your lawyer asks you softball questions, attempting to get the jury on your side. During the cross-examination, your husband's lawyers eat you alive. They purposefully ask you questions to get you angry. You come across to the jury as an unhinged, wildly abusive wife. \n\nThe jury finds in favor of your husband. You are sentenced to 10 years in jail for spousal abuse. Your husband gets everything. When you are finally released, you have nowhere to go. You die penniless, and homeless on the streets, a virtual unknown.\n\nTHE END

"Thanks, but no thanks," you reply. "I don't think you can give me the help I need."\n\n"If that's what you think," she replies. You reach into your pocket feeling out a few pieces of change to thank her for the attempt. You produce a couple of quarters, grasping them in your fingertips. You offer them to the woman, but she has vanished. Shrugging off the odd encounter, you duck back into the office.\n\nBack inside, your attorney approaches you in the lobby. "The evidence they have against you is pretty serious," he says. I think it's better we agree to their terms."\n\n"But what's that mean?" you reply, "I didn't hit anyone."\n\n"Control of your shares of the company and eighty percent of your net worth. They've also contacted the police and are leveraging a criminal case against you," he states. "I'm sorry Richard, but there's nothing else I can do for you."\n\nYou turn around to a pair of police officers that have walked in the front door. Your shoulders slump as you resign to your fate.\n\nTHE END

"Thanks, but no thanks," you reply. "I don't think you can give me the help I need."\n\n"If that's what you think," he replies. You reach into your pocket feeling out a few pieces of change to thank him for the attempt. You produce a couple of quarters, grasping them in your fingertips. You go to offer them to the man, but he has vanished. Shrugging off the odd encounter, you duck back into the office.\n\nBack inside, your attorney approaches you in the lobby. "The evidence they have against you is pretty serious," he says. I think it's better we agree to their terms."\n\n"But what's that mean?" you reply, "I didn't hit anyone."\n\n"Control of your shares of the company and eighty percent of your net worth. They've also contacted the police and are leveraging a criminal case against you," he states. "I'm sorry Vera, but there's nothing else I can do for you."\n\nYou turn around to a pair of police officers that have walked in the front door. Your shoulders slump as you resign to your fate.\n\nTHE END

You trust your gut feeling and run to Vera and tell her about seeing Prudence. Vera tells you to calm down. She takes you by the hand and leads you back to your room. Together you slowly pack your bags and wait until nightfall. While you wait, Vera spends about two hours on the phone.\n\nAround midnight Vera leads you to the docks. There is a large boat waiting. You get on and together you sail in the moonlight to another island. You arrive the next morning. The island is secluded with just a single hut in the near the edge of the water.\n\nA month passes. You have facial reconstruction to change your appearance. Vera had a new identity made for you. It's now safe to leave the island. You move to Europe where you and Vera live happily ever after!\n\nTHE END.

You continue reading the book as it explains the first step of the process. "You are to empty out any and all bank accounts in your name." \n\nYou contemplate the best way to handle your newfound knowledge. Satisfied with your decision, you head to the bank to empty out your account. \n\nAfter closing your account, you leave the bank only to find the same homeless woman that gave you the book. "You, again," you say to her.\n\n"Richard, it's me..." she replies. \n\nYou look closely, "Vera?"\n\n"I can't have anyone recognize me."\n\n"But I thought you were dead."\n\n"Which is why I can't have anyone recognize me. Now keep walking and listen closely." \n\nStartled by who you are speaking with, you feel the need to confess, "Listen, I'm sorry I testified against you during your divorce. I didn't have a choice." \n\n"It's water under the bridge, Dick. Just shut up and listen."\n\n<<choice [[Trust Vera?|TrustR]]>>\n<<choice [[Don't trust Vera|DontR]]>>\n<<choice [[Turn Vera into the authorities|TurnR]]>>\n

You continue reading the book as it explains the first step of the process. "You are to empty out any and all bank accounts in your name." \n\nYou contemplate the best way to handle your newfound knowledge. Satisfied with your decision, you head to the bank to empty out your account. \n\nAfter closing your account, you leave the bank only to find the same homeless man that gave you the book. "You, again," you say to him.\n\n"Vera, it's me..." he replies. \n\nYou look closely, "Richard?"\n\n"I can't have anyone recognize me."\n\n"But I thought you were dead."\n\n"Which is why I can't have anyone recognize me. Now keep walking and listen closely." \n\nStartled by who you are speaking with, you feel the need to confess, "Listen, I'm sorry I testified against you during your divorce. I didn't have a choice." \n\n"It's water under the bridge, V. Now shut up and listen."\n\n<<choice [[Trust Richard?|TrustV]]>>\n<<choice [[Don't trust Richard|DontV]]>>\n<<choice [[Turn Richard into the authorities|TurnV]]>>

You take the stand to defend yourself. Your lawyer asks you softball questions, attempting to get the jury on your side. During the cross-examination, your wife's lawyers eat you alive. They purposefully ask you questions to get you angry. You come across to the jury as an unhinged, wildly abusive husband. \n\nThe jury finds in favor of your wife. You are sentenced to 10 years in jail for spousal abuse. Your wife gets everything. When you are finally released, you have nowhere to go. You die penniless, and homeless on the streets, a virtual unknown.\n\nTHE END

You dismiss the book as poppycock, head to bed, and stay there for days, not wanting to leave the apartment. You receive calls and people knock on your door, but you ignore them.\n\nAs you lie in bed, you hear the phone ring. It's your lawyer. He leaves a message on your machine, "You've been found guilty of spousal abuse, Vera. The courts are giving your husband everything. They're going to put you in jail. Can you hear me, Vera? The police are on their way." \n\nYou spend the next ten years in jail. When you are finally released, you are left penniless and without a home. You live homeless on the streets until you die a virtual unknown.\n\nTHE END.

You dismiss the book as poppycock, head to bed, and stay there for days, not wanting to leave the apartment. You receive calls and people knock on your door, but you ignore them.\n\nAs you lie in bed, you hear the phone ring. It's your lawyer. He leaves a message on your machine, "You've been found guilty of spousal abuse, Richard. The courts are giving your wife everything. They're going to put you in jail. Can you hear me, Richard? The police are on their way." \n\nYou spend the next ten years in jail. When you are finally released, you are left penniless and without a home. You live homeless on the streets until you die a virtual unknown.\n\nTHE END.

You are convinced Vera sold you out! You take your beach towel and wrap it around your head like a nun's habit. Ducking through the crowd, you look for cover. Once in your room, you throw your belongings into a bag and rush out the door. You remember seeing a small town not far away and think you can get to it through the jungle.\n\nThe jungle is thick, but you are getting through it fast. Lemurs jump around you as you run towards the town. Not paying attention, you trip over a tree root and fall. Your bag explodes all over the jungle floor. A lemur picks up the paper that has all your offshore bank account information on it and runs off. You Jump to your feet, and take off after the lemur.\n\nIt runs into the small town and stops in the middle of a street, almost getting hit by a car. You grab it by the tail and pull the paper from its grasp, casting the Lemur to the side. At that same moment a car speeds by you, hitting the lemur and killing it.\n\nLocal authorities see the whole thing and arrest you. Lemurs are protected. They are convinced you threw it in front of the car on purpose. The paper with all your bank information falls to the ground when you were arrested and is gone forever.\nSix years later you are released from prison. You have lost all of your money and now have nothing to your name. If you call for help from the U.S., you will only be thrown back in prison. You live out the rest of your life homeless in Madagascar, which isn't all that terrible.\n\nTHE END. \n

There's something about her tone that you just don't trust. "Listen, I appreciate all your help so far, but I think I'm gonna just follow what the book says. I'd feel more comfortable doing this on my own." \n\n"Seriously, Dick? You screwed ME over and now YOU don't trust ME?"\n\nVera turns and walks away calling over her shoulder, "Good luck, asshole!" \n\nYou have a change of heart and return back to the bank. You deposit all of your money back into your account and notify the police of Vera's whereabouts. \n\nYou end up in divorce court with your wife and neither of you are found guilty of any wrong doing. Your assets are divided equally. You're left with several millions and decide to retire to Aruba. As you sit in a lounge chair on the beach you wonder to yourself what ever became of Vera. \n\nTHE END.

You are convinced Richard sold you out! You take your beach towel and wrap it around your head like a nun's habit. Ducking through the crowd, you look for cover. Once in your room, you throw your belongings into a bag and rush out the door. You remember seeing a small town not far away and think you can get to it through the jungle.\n\nThe jungle is thick, but you are getting through it fast. Lemurs jump around you as you run towards the town. Not paying attention, you trip over a tree root and fall. Your bag explodes all over the jungle floor. A lemur picks up the paper that has all your offshore bank account information on it and runs off. Jumping to your feet you take off after the lemur.\n\nIt runs into the small town and stops in the middle of a street, almost getting hit by a car. You grab it by the tail and pull the paper from its grasp, casting the Lemur to the side. At that same moment a car speeds by you, hitting the lemur and killing it.\n\nLocal authorities see the whole thing and arrest you. Lemurs are protected. They are convinced you threw it in front of the car on purpose. The paper with all your bank information falls to the ground when you were arrested and is gone forever.\nSix years later you are released from prison. You have lost all of your money and now have nothing to your name. If you call for help from the U.S., you will only be thrown back in prison. You live out the rest of your life homeless in Madagascar, which isn't all that terrible.\n\nTHE END.

There's something about his tone that you just don't trust. "Listen, I appreciate all your help so far, but I think I'm gonna just follow what the book says. I'd feel more comfortable doing this on my own." \n\n"Seriously? You screwed ME over and now YOU don't trust ME?"\n\nRichard turns and walks away calling over her shoulder, "Good luck, bitch!" \n\nYou have a change of heart and return back to the bank. You deposit all of your money back into your account and notify the police of Richard's whereabouts. \n\nYou end up in divorce court with your husband and neither of you are found guilty of any wrong doing. Your assets are divided equally. You're left with several millions and decide to retire to Aruba. As you sit in a lounge chair on the beach you wonder to yourself what ever became of Richard. \n\nTHE END.

Tony Folden

As you head towards the bar, you see Charles showing something to the bartender. The bartender points in your direction and nods his head affirmatively. You panic and start to run back to Richard. You stop short, playing over his last words to you, "Everyone gets what they deserve in the end." Has he double-crossed you? Did he call Charles? \n\n<<choice [[Trust Vera|TrustV2]]>>\n<<choice [[Don't Trust Vera|DontV2]]>>

"Yes, I admit it! I beat my wife! But she deserved it!" You shout at the lawyer. \n\nYour lawyer interjects, "Don't say anything more, Richard!" \n\nYou look at your lawyer in disgust, "She's been having affairs with other men that she met from my website! I created Illicit Affairs and made a fortune from it while she was using it to cheat on me!"\n\nYour lawyer, accepting defeat, sits back and shakes his head. You can tell he is disgusted with you.\n\nPrudence's lawyer attempts to hold back a smirk, "That seems rather ironic, doesn't it, Mr. Ardent?" You glare at him as he slides pictures in front of you. "There is plenty of proof of your abuse, Mr. Ardent, but I'm afraid we have no proof of your wife's infidelities." Prudence's lawyer looks at your lawyer, "We agree to settle if your client agrees to counseling." \n\nYour lawyer speaks for you as slump back in your chair, ""Not a chance. We've got a subponea to search Mrs. Ardent's computer. If fact, the police are at her residence seizing it now. We'll see how this plays out in court."\n\n\nA look of fear crosses your wife's face. She leans of over whispers in her lawyer's ear.\n\nONE WEEK LATER\n\nYou sit in the courtroom listening to you husband recount scenes of your abuse. You watch the jury's eyes as they scan you judgementally. Now it's your turn to speak.\n\n<<choice [[Take the stand|StandR]]>>\n<<choice [[Let your lawyer defend you|LawyerR]]>>

As you head towards the bar, you see Prudence showing something to the bartender. The bartender points in your direction and nods his head affirmatively. You panic and start to run back to Vera. You stop short, playing over her last words to you, "Everyone gets what they deserve in the end." Has she double-crossed you? Did she call Prudence? \n\n<<choice [[Trust Vera|TrustR2]]>>\n<<choice [[Don't Trust Vera|DontR2]]>>