" You said you and William became 'officially involved' on December twenty-fourth?"
"Yes."
"That night, did you and William ever discuss a recent windfall of fifty thousand dollars?"
"No."
"Did you and William discuss your plans to move in together?"
"I said, no."
"Did you agree to become officially involved with William even though you both knew another woman still considered herself his fiancée?"
"Yes."
"Did you decide to do this because William's financial prospects had suddenly improved by fifty thousand dollars? Enough to live together in the Lakeside Apartments, after his father was dead?"
Brenda flinches. Jerry calls out, "Objection! Speculation! Foundation! Assumes facts not in evidence!" The objection is sustained.
Udweala rephrases the question. "You said you had financial reasons not to be 'officially involved' with William Chao. Did you become 'officially involved' on the evening of December twenty-fourth, despite the fact that he had not broken off his engagement with his girlfriend, because William now had fifty thousand dollars?"
"For God's sake, no." Brenda's voice is sharp. "I told you, he never told me about any fifty thousand. What are you implying here? You want to make me out as some kind of slut? A whore? You want the jury to think that Dagou tried to pay me to move in with him?"
Again, James glances at Lynn's juror. Her lips are set, her eyes bright, and James understands that with these blurted questions, Brenda has said exactly what the persecution wanted. "

― Lan Samantha Chang , The Family Chao