Chapter 4 – The Verdict
Six months later...
Snow covered the courthouse steps.
Inside, every seat was occupied.
Journalists.
Business leaders.
Victims' advocates.
Curious spectators.
The courtroom fell silent as the jury returned.
Isabella no longer resembled the glamorous woman from the gala.
Gone were the designer gowns.
Gone was the confidence.
Only regret remained.
The foreperson stood.
"We find the defendant..."
"Guilty."
"Guilty."
"Guilty."
Attempted murder.
Aggravated assault.
Conspiracy.
Evidence tampering.
The judge removed his glasses.
"Mrs. Rossi, wealth does not excuse violence."
"It merely exposes how dangerous unchecked privilege can become."
He imposed a lengthy prison sentence.
Civil damages followed.
Everything Isabella owned was liquidated to satisfy the judgment.
The Rossi family empire collapsed under lawsuits and public disgrace.
Outside the courthouse, reporters surrounded Marcus.
"Do you feel justice has been served?"
Marcus looked toward Khloe.
She stood beside him holding their infant son.
A little boy wrapped in a blue blanket.
His tiny fingers curled around hers.
Marcus answered quietly.
"Justice didn't erase what happened."
May you like
"But it protected someone else from becoming her next victim."
He walked away without another word.
