Chapter 17 - THE COURTROOMThe trial lasted six months.
The media called it the Blackwood conspiracy.
Lily avoided every camera.
She didn't want fame.
She wanted Ethan to grow up without remembering flashing lights and screaming reporters.
Inside court, she told the truth.
She described Serena's violence.
The bruises.
The medicine.
The threats.
Rosa testified.
Marco testified.
Warren testified.
Celia testified.
Then Victor took the stand.
The defense tried to portray him as a dangerous criminal.
Victor didn't deny his past.
“I built power through fear,” he said.
The courtroom became silent.
“That made it easy for people around me to believe fear was normal.”
He looked toward Ethan.
“My son paid for that mistake.”
Then he looked at Lily.
“So did the woman who protected him.”
He took a breath.
“I cannot change what I was.”
His voice softened.
“But I can decide what I become next.”
The jury deliberated for two days.
The verdicts came.
Guilty.
August.
Damien.
Warren.
Celia.
Serena.
The Blackwood conspiracy collapsed.
Outside the courthouse, Lily held Ethan.
Victor approached.
“It's over.”
Lily looked at him.
“No.”
She smiled faintly.
“Now we build what comes after.”
May you like
Victor handed her a key.
It opened a small house near Lake Michigan.
