Chapter 13 - The VerdictThe jury deliberated for five days.
Five days felt like five years.
Sophie colored in a private room.
Rosa sat beside her.
Mateo built wooden towers.
Olivia and I sat in silence.
We had spent years waiting for answers.
Now the answers were waiting for us.
The clerk finally called.
We entered the courtroom.
The jury found Richard guilty.
Adrian guilty.
Judge Cole guilty.
Conspiracy.
Fraud.
Kidnapping.
Obstruction.
Evidence destruction.
Bribery.
Attempted murder.
The courtroom erupted in quiet movement.
Richard stared straight ahead.
Adrian looked at me.
For the first time, he looked less like my enemy and more like my brother.
Broken.
Lost.
I stood when sentencing came.
“You were my brother before you became my enemy.”
His eyes filled.
“I spent years wondering why you hated me.”
He said nothing.
“Now I understand. You thought Father divided love between us.”
Richard shifted behind him.
“But he did not make every choice for you.”
Adrian lowered his head.
“You chose.”
I paused.
“You frightened a child. You took a mother from her daughter. You destroyed lives.”
Adrian whispered:
“I know.”
It was the first honest thing I had heard from him.
May you like
I looked at him.
“I hope you learn to live with that truth.”
Related Stories
