Chapter 8 - The Collapse of the Empire
The courtroom descended into complete chaos.
"Lies! That's a lie!" Dr. Blake panicked on the stand, sweat pouring down his face. "I didn't know it was synthetic! They paid me to run the test, that's all!"
"Your Honor!" Victoria stood up from our bench. "We request the immediate arrest of witness Harrison Blake for perjury and evidence tampering, and the immediate arrest of Richard Vance for jury tampering, witness bribery, and obstruction of justice!"
Judge Evans’s face was thunderous. She slammed her gavel down five times in rapid succession.
"Bailiffs!" Judge Evans roared. "Secure Dr. Blake! Secure Richard Vance immediately! Do not let anyone leave this courtroom!"
Four armed state troopers surrounded Richard Vance before he could even stand up from his wooden bench. His golden walking stick clattered to the floor as they forced his arms behind his back, snapping heavy steel handcuffs onto his wrists.
"You can't do this to me!" Richard screamed, his face turning purple with rage. "I am Richard Vance! I own this city! You will all be fired by morning!"
"Take him away!" Judge Evans commanded.
Mark sat at the defense table, watching his powerful, invincible father being dragged out of the courtroom in chains. The final pillar of Mark's protection had crumbled into dust right before his eyes. He looked at his high-priced defense lawyers, but they were already packing their briefcases, frantically trying to distance themselves from the corporate trainwreck unfolding in front of them.
The defense rested its case immediately. They had nothing left.
The jury deliberated for less than forty-five minutes.
When they filed back into the courtroom, the foreperson—a stern elderly woman—stood up and held the official verdict sheet.
"On count one, criminal attempted murder of an unborn child: We find the defendant, Mark Edward Vance, GUILTY."
"On count two, aggravated domestic battery with a deadly weapon: GUILTY."
"On count three, kidnapping and unlawful restraint: GUILTY."
"On count four, grand larceny and financial fraud: GUILTY."
Every single count—sixteen felony charges in total—came back guilty.
Mark sank into his chair, staring blankly at the defense table as if his mind couldn't comprehend the reality of his new existence.
Judge Evans looked down at him, her expression devoid of any mercy.
"Mark Vance," Judge Evans stated, her voice echoing in the dead silence of the court. "Your actions demonstrate a level of calculated cruelty that is rarely seen in human society. You treated your pregnant wife worse than an animal, buried her in the dirt, and tried to destroy her soul. For your crimes, I sentence you to forty-five years in state prison, without the possibility of parole for thirty years."
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She turned her eyes toward me, her expression softening into genuine warmth and respect.
"And to Sarah Vance," Judge Evans said gently. "You have shown unbelievable courage, strength, and resilience. I grant you full, sole legal custody of your daughter, a permanent lifetime protection order, and the complete restitution of all stolen trust assets. Court is adjourned."
