Chapter 7 - The Trial’s Aftermath
Six months later, the trial of the century reached its conclusion.
Alderman Vane and Dominic Moretti were sentenced to life in maximum-security federal prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Samuel Croft and multi-decade corruption charges.
Celeste Vane was convicted of felony conspiracy, fraud, and animal cruelty. Her family’s fortune was entirely seized by the state to pay restitutions, leaving her destitute. She was sentenced to seven years at a women’s correctional facility.
On the day of her sentencing, I attended the courtroom with Julian. I sat in the front row, wearing an ivory wool coat and a quiet confidence that required no harsh words.
When Celeste was led out in orange jumpsuits and wrist chains, she caught my eye. There was no rage left in her—only a hollow, bitter regret. She had traded her entire life of luxury for a moment of cruel arrogance toward a dying dog and a girl she thought was defenseless.
As we left the courthouse, reporters swarmed the steps, light flashes blinding the afternoon air.
“Mr. Croft! Mr. Croft!” a reporter yelled. “Is it true that Miss Miller is taking over the Croft Charitable Foundation?”
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Julian stopped on the steps, keeping his arm wrapped securely around my waist. He pulled me close, looking down at me with an open, radiant warmth that the press had never seen on his face before.
“Miss Miller is not only taking over the foundation,” Julian announced clearly into the microphones. “She is rebuilding our family's mission from the ground up.”
