Chapter 6 - The Trial of the Betrayers
Six months later.
The Denver Federal Courthouse was packed to maximum capacity. The gallery was filled with journalists, corporate executives, and curious members of the public who had been following the "Undercover Heiress" scandal for half a year.
I sat on the front row of the prosecution side, accompanied by Chloe and Marcus. I wore an elegant navy blue dress, my posture poised and relaxed.
Across the courtroom, sitting at the defense table, were Dominic Vance and Valerie Vance.
They looked completely unrecognizable from the arrogant executives who had stood in the cafeteria six months ago.
Dominic wore a plain gray prison jumpsuit, his hair cut short, his face hollowed out by months in federal detention. He sat with his head bowed, never daring to look back at the gallery.
Valerie sat beside her public defender, wearing a similar jumpsuit, her hair limp and unstyled, her wrists chained to a leather belt around her waist. The sapphire ring was gone—seized by federal marshals and returned to my private safe months ago.
The presiding judge, the Honorable Judge Robert Sterling (no relation to Julian), slammed his gavel down, bringing the courtroom to absolute order.
"In the matter of the United States v. Dominic Vance, Valerie Vance, and Julian Sterling," Judge Sterling announced, his sharp eyes scanning the defendants. "The court has reviewed the overwhelming physical, digital, and audio evidence presented by the prosecution, including the audio recordings captured by Ms. Audrey Crestwood during her undercover operation."
Dominic flinched at the mention of my name.
"The evidence demonstrates a brazen, systematic conspiracy to commit grand larceny, wire fraud, corporate espionage, and illegal transfer of national security technology," Judge Sterling continued sternly. "The actions of these defendants were driven by unadulterated greed, betrayal, and a complete disregard for the law."
Judge Sterling looked directly at Dominic.
"Dominic Vance, for your lead role in this conspiracy, your breach of fiduciary duty, and your attempt to sabotage a vital defense contractor, I sentence you to twenty-two years in a federal penitentiary without the possibility of parole for the first fifteen years."
Dominic’s shoulders slumped completely. A soft, broken groan escaped his lips as he dropped his head onto the wooden table.
Judge Sterling turned his cold gaze toward Valerie.
"Valerie Vance, for your active participation in corporate theft, destruction of evidence, and conspiracy, I sentence you to twelve years in a federal correctional facility."
Valerie burst into loud, hysterical sobs, her chained hands shaking violently as her attorney tried to comfort her. "No! Please! It was Dominic’s idea! He forced me! He lied to me!"
"Silence in the court!" Judge Sterling warned, slamming his gavel down. "And finally, Julian Sterling, for funding this criminal enterprise and attempting to steal defense-grade intellectual property, I sentence you to twenty-eight years in maximum-security federal custody, along with a fine of fifty million dollars."
THWACK.
"Court is adjourned."
The gallery erupted into quiet murmurs as federal marshals stepped forward to lead the prisoners away.
As Dominic was being led toward the side exit, he stopped. He turned his head slowly, his hollow, tear-filled eyes searching the gallery until they met mine.
He looked at me with a look of desperate, agonizing regret—a man who had possessed everything a person could ever dream of: love, wealth, status, and respect—and had thrown it all into the gutter for an illusion.
I didn't smile. I didn't glare. I simply met his gaze with a look of quiet, absolute indifference.
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He was no longer my husband. He was no longer my enemy. He was simply a ghost from a past that I had long since outgrown.
Dominic was pulled through the heavy metal doors, and the heavy lock clicked shut behind him.
