Chapter 4 – The Trial
Chapter 4 – The Trial
The courtroom overflowed with reporters.
Security footage was played on the largest screen.
No one looked away.
Vanessa's attorney argued it had been reckless behavior.
Then Detective Bennett presented something unexpected.
Text messages.
Vanessa:
"If she loses the baby, she'll finally stop acting like she's better than me."
Eleanor replied only seconds later.
"Just don't get caught."
Gasps echoed through the courtroom.
Even Vanessa stared at her mother in disbelief.
"You kept those?"
Eleanor whispered,
"I deleted everything."
Detective Bennett smiled.
"You deleted them from your phone."
She held up another device.
"But not from your cloud backup."
The jury didn't deliberate long.
Vanessa was found guilty of aggravated assault on a pregnant woman.
Eleanor was convicted of conspiracy and obstruction after attempting to influence witnesses.
Both women were taken into custody that same afternoon.
As officers placed handcuffs on Eleanor, she looked at Claire.
"I did everything for this family."
Claire answered quietly,
May you like
"No."
"You only did everything for the daughter you chose."
