Chapter 10 - Justice Served
"Has the jury reached a verdict?" the judge asked, his voice echoing in the large room.
"We have, Your Honor," the foreman replied steadily.
Margaret was forced to stand up, her hands visibly shaking at her sides.
"On the charge of aggravated assault, how do you find the defendant?"
"Guilty, Your Honor."
"On the charge of reckless endangerment of a child, how do you find the defendant?"
"Guilty, Your Honor."
"On the charge of filing a false police report, how do you find the defendant?"
"Guilty, Your Honor."
With every word, Margaret seemed to physically shrink in her expensive suit.
She collapsed into her chair, burying her face in her hands.
She finally began to sob, but they were tears of self-pity, not remorse.
The judge adjusted his microphone and looked down at her.
"Margaret Vance, you have shown absolutely no remorse for your monstrous actions," he declared.
"You nearly killed the mother of your own grandchild."
"You did this purely out of spite, jealousy, and a twisted need for control."
"I am sentencing you to fifteen years in the state penitentiary, without the possibility of early parole."
Margaret let out a horrifying, guttural wail.
It was the sound of a woman whose entire empire had just burned to the ground.
The bailiffs quickly moved in, snapping the heavy metal handcuffs onto her wrists.
She didn't fight them this time.
She was completely broken.
As they led her out of the courtroom, she briefly locked eyes with me.
There was no anger left in her gaze, only a hollow, terrifying emptiness.
I didn't smile, and I didn't gloat.
I simply turned my back on her and walked over to my wife.
We walked out of the courthouse together, stepping out into the warm afternoon air.
The press tried to swarm us, shoving microphones into our faces.
"No comment," I told them, shielding Elena from the flashing cameras.
We got into our car and drove away from the courthouse for the very last time.
When we pulled into our driveway, our babysitter was waiting on the porch with Leo.
He giggled and reached his chubby little arms out to me as soon as I opened the car door.
I scooped him up and kissed his soft cheek.
Elena wrapped her arms around my waist, resting her head against my shoulder.
"It's finally over," she said softly, a brilliant smile lighting up her face.
"Yes, it is," I agreed, looking at the beautiful family I had fought so hard to protect.
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The nightmare was officially behind us.
Our real life, free of toxic shadows and malicious control, was just beginning.
