Chapter 9 - The Sentencing
The jury deliberated for less than four hours.
When the foreman stood up to read the verdict, the tension in the courtroom was incredibly thick.
“On the charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, we find the defendant, Vivian Hartley, guilty.”
“On the charge of grand theft, we find the defendant guilty.”
“On the charge of reckless endangerment of a child, we find the defendant guilty.”
Vivian collapsed into her chair, letting out a pathetic, shattered sob that echoed through the silent room.
Kelsey sat at the adjacent defense table, weeping loudly into her handcuffed hands.
The judge, a stern, unforgiving man with silver hair, adjusted his glasses and looked down at my mother with absolute disgust.
“Vivian Hartley, in all my years on the bench, I have rarely seen a case of such profound, unnatural cruelty,” the judge began.
“You allowed your selfish greed to completely override the most basic, primal instinct of motherhood.”
“You brutally attacked your own pregnant daughter, nearly killing both her and your unborn grandchild over a piece of jewelry.”
“You have shown zero genuine remorse, only regret that you were finally caught.”
The judge slammed his wooden gavel down with terrifying force.
“I sentence you to fifteen years in a maximum-security state penitentiary, without the possibility of early parole.”
Vivian screamed, a horrific, guttural sound, as the bailiffs grabbed her arms and dragged her forcefully out of the courtroom.
She looked back at me one last time, her eyes wide with sheer, unadulterated terror.
I simply stared back, my face an emotionless mask, offering her absolutely no comfort.
The judge then turned his fierce attention to my sobbing sister.
“Kelsey Hartley, while you did not commit the physical assault, you actively orchestrated the theft that initiated this horrific tragedy.”
“Because of your cooperation with the prosecution, I am honoring your plea agreement.”
“I sentence you to five years in a minimum-security facility.”
Kelsey did not scream; she merely slumped forward, accepting the total ruin of her perfectly curated, superficial life.
As the courtroom slowly emptied, Ethan wrapped his strong arms around my waist, pulling me close against his chest.
“It is finally over, Maddie,” Ethan whispered, burying his face in my hair.
“They can never hurt us again.”
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I closed my eyes, taking a deep, cleansing breath of the stale courtroom air.
He was absolutely right; the nightmare was finally, permanently over.
