Chapter 6 - The VerdictThe jury returned in less than two hours.

"Guilty of felony child abuse and endangerment," the foreman announced.
Claire didn't scream. She didn't faint. She just stared at me—a look of pure, hollow hate. As the bailiffs approached to lead her away, she leaned toward me, her voice a low, raspy whisper: "You think you won? They’re going to grow up knowing their mother was a criminal because of you. You destroyed their life, John."
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"No," I replied, my voice steady. "I saved their lives. That’s the difference."
As she was handcuffed, I didn't feel joy. I felt a profound, heavy sense of relief. The parasite had been removed.