Chapter 18 - The Judge's Wrath
Sentencing took place two weeks later. The federal and state judges had coordinated their sentencing to ensure maximum impact for their respective crimes.
The courtroom was silent as the Honorable Judge Reynolds looked down from the bench at the two shattered elites standing before her.
“In my twenty years on the bench, I have rarely seen such a grotesque display of greed, cruelty, and absolute lack of remorse,” Judge Reynolds stated, her voice echoing with righteous fury. “You believed your wealth and your status placed you above the law. You believed you could torture and extort a woman simply because she refused to fund your criminal enterprises.”
She turned her gaze to Beatrice. “Beatrice Sterling. You used a household object to inflict unimaginable agony on your daughter-in-law. You showed zero remorse, only annoyance that she didn't submit to your will. I sentence you to twenty-five years in the state penitentiary, without the possibility of parole.”
Beatrice let out a low, guttural moan, collapsing against the defense table as the bailiffs grabbed her arms. Twenty-five years meant she would die in a concrete cell.
The judge then turned to Julian. “Julian Sterling. You watched your wife burn, and you used her agony to extort her. You bribed federal officials, covered up a fatal accident, and funded a lavish lifestyle with stolen money. You are a sociopath in a tailored suit. I sentence you to thirty years in federal prison, to be served consecutively.”
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Julian didn't fight as the handcuffs were locked around his wrists. He was completely hollowed out.
As they were marched down the center aisle, Julian finally looked up and met my eyes. I didn't smile. I didn't sneer. I simply looked at him with the cold, detached indifference he had always shown me. He was nothing to me anymore. Just a ghost I had finally exorcised.
