Chapter 7 - The Verdict
The jury deliberated for less than three hours. When they returned, the atmosphere in the courtroom was electric with anticipation.
"On the charge of administration of harmful substances resulting in the death of minors with premeditation: Guilty."
"On the charge of psychological harassment against Élise Duval: Guilty."
The judge stood up to deliver the sentence. "Martine Duval, you acted with a calculated cruelty that defies the very essence of human nature. You used the vulnerability of infants to wage a psychological war against their mother. For your crimes, you are sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum safety period of twenty-two years before any parole eligibility."
Martine collapsed into her seat, her perfectly coiffed hair finally falling into disarray, her face twisted in a silent scream of ruin. Nadia, who was found to have known about the harassment but not the poisoning, was sentenced to two years of probation for failure to report a crime against minors.
As the guards led Martine away, she looked at Élise one last time, hoping to see fear. But Élise only looked back with cold, absolute victory.
Outside the courthouse, the sun was shining over Lyon. Flashes of cameras illuminated the steps, but Élise walked through them like a ghost, her father on one side, her mother holding Chloé on the other.
Julien ran down the steps after them. "Élise! Please! Wait!"
Élise stopped on the bottom step, turning around slowly.
"The trial is over, Julien," she said quietly.
"Can we... can we try to talk? For Chloé? I want to make things right. I’ll do anything," Julien pleaded, his eyes begging for a second chance.
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"You spent years listening to her instead of me," Élise said, her voice devoid of anger, filled only with a profound, unbridgeable distance. "You allowed her to poison our lives before she poisoned our sons. I have no hatred left for you, Julien. I have nothing left for you at all. My lawyer will send the divorce papers tomorrow."
She turned her back on him, stepping into the car with her family, leaving Julien standing alone on the cold stone steps of the courthouse.
