Chapter 9 - THE VERDICT
It didn’t take long.
The jury deliberated for less than three hours.
They found David guilty of grand larceny, fraud, and embezzlement. The judge, visibly disgusted by the evidence, sentenced him to twelve years in federal prison.
Susan’s plea deal kept her out of a cell, but she was sentenced to five years of strict probation and hundreds of hours of community service.
As for the civil suit, the judge hammered the final nail into the coffin. He ordered the immediate liquidation of all my parents' assets—the mansion, the luxury cars, Chloe’s designer jewelry collections, everything. Every single cent was to be returned to me, with interest.
As the bailiffs took my father away in handcuffs, Chloe stood up and tried to approach me.
“Evelyn, please,” she begged, her voice cracking. “I have nothing. Where am I supposed to go?”
I looked at her, feeling absolutely nothing. No anger. No pity. Just a profound, peaceful emptiness.
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“Go sit in the back, Chloe,” I whispered.
I turned my wheelchair around and left the courtroom, rolling into the bright afternoon sun.
