Chapter 9 - Justice Served
The highly publicized trial of Eleanor dominated the national news for six solid months.
Every single dark, twisted secret she had hidden for decades was dragged violently into the public light.
The prosecutors played recorded phone calls of Eleanor paying thugs to terrorize Sarah.
They displayed complex bank records proving she had stolen millions from Arthur's charity foundations.
But the most damning evidence of all was the detailed testimony of Marcus, the hired assassin.
He told the jury exactly how Eleanor had ordered the execution of an innocent little girl.
Through it all, Arthur sat in the front row of the courtroom, completely unmoved by Eleanor's constant sobbing.
Lily did not attend the trial; Arthur wanted to protect her from the ugly darkness of the courtroom.
On the day of the final verdict, the courtroom was packed to maximum capacity with eager reporters.
The jury foreman stood up, holding a small slip of white paper in his shaking hands.
"On the charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, we find the defendant, guilty."
The judge slammed his heavy wooden gavel down as Eleanor let out a loud, agonizing shriek of despair.
"I sentence you to life in federal prison, without the possibility of parole," the judge declared sternly.
"Take her away."
Bailiffs roughly grabbed Eleanor by her arms, dragging her screaming from the courtroom.
Her glamorous life of luxury, champagne, and power was officially over forever.
She would spend the rest of her miserable life in a tiny, concrete cell.
Arthur walked out of the courthouse, the bright sunshine warming his old, tired face.
A massive crowd of reporters surrounded him, flashing cameras and shouting urgent questions.
"Mr. Sterling! How does it feel to finally see justice served?" one reporter asked loudly.
Arthur stopped, leaning heavily on his silver cane, and looked directly into the camera lenses.
"Justice cannot bring back the beautiful daughter I lost," Arthur said, his voice completely steady.
"But it ensures that her memory will never be disrespected again."
"I am closing the dark chapters of my past today, and I will only be looking toward the future."
He climbed into his waiting black limousine, feeling a massive weight finally lift from his shoulders.
He had kept his promise to Sarah; he had destroyed the monster who ruined her life.
When the limousine finally pulled into the grand driveway of the Sterling Estate, Arthur smiled.
He could hear the bright, happy sound of children laughing coming from the sprawling backyard gardens.
Arthur slowly walked around the side of the massive mansion, following the joyful noise.
Lily was running across the green grass, chasing a golden retriever puppy Arthur had bought her for her birthday.
She was laughing so hard she fell into the soft grass, the puppy eagerly licking her happy face.
Arthur stood in the shade of a large oak tree, watching his granddaughter thrive in her new life.
She wasn't a scared, starving little street urchin anymore.
She was a brilliant, happy, and incredibly loved little girl.
She wore bright yellow overalls, and the shiny silver necklace with the rose pendant bounced against her chest as she played.
May you like
Arthur felt a single, happy tear slide down his wrinkled cheek.
He finally had his family back.
